Gospel Reflection

December 18, 2012

Tuesday – Advent – Year of Faith

Third Day – Misa de Gallo

by Rev. Fr. Ramon Jade L. Licuanan (Commissioner, Commission on Youth, Archdiocese of Manila)

8pm Anticipated Simbang Gabi Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

Reading 1 Jer 23:5-8

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: "The LORD our justice."

Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD, when they shall no longer say, "As the LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt"; but rather, "As the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Israel up from the land of the north"-- and from all the lands to which I banished them; they shall again live on their own land.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19

R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Gospel Mt 1:18-25

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

HOMILY

Alam po ba ninyo ang history ng pangalan ninyo? Do you know why your name was given to you by your parents? How do parents usually find names for their babies? Iba-iba ano po? For example, my name is Ramon. Because I was born on August 31, I suppose it is connected to Ramon Magsaysay. And as my mother was in labor in the delivery room, my mother was asking that I be given another name other than Ramon. Napatingin daw si nanay sa kanyang singsing at nakita niya ang jade. Kaya ang sabi niya, "Jade, Jade." Kaya ako po ay naging Ramon Jade.

There are other ways of finding or creating names. For example, we get names from a significant someone. I was able to meet a very old dear friend to me, and I asked her, 'Uy, you already have a baby, what is the name of your baby?" And she said, "Ramon Jade." So ang sabi ko, "My God, please move on." (laughs)

Mayroon din tayong famous personalities, mayroon tayong mga artista at ipinapangalan din natin sa baby natin 'yan ano. Sino nga ang mga artista? Si Charice, di ba mga ganyan? Sino pa ba ang mga artista? Sino pa? (pauses; people laugh) Si Bentot. Kung kilala nyo pa si Bentot, pwede nyong ipangalan 'yan. Another one is 'yong parents' name ay pinagsasama. Sino ho dito 'yong pinagsama ang pangalan ng nanay at tatay niya? (some people raise their hands) O di ba? Mayroon ang pangalan ng tatay ay Dennis, at ang pangalan ng nanay ay Dory. So ano ang pangalan ng anak nila? Dedo. (laughs) Ganda di ba?

Why do I say this? If you remember, yesterday's Gospel is a series of names. Today's Gospel is a continuation of yesterday's Gospel. And if you notice, there is a particular name that is outstanding in the Gospel for today. And that name was given to the Messiah who was to be born in Mary. And what is that name? Emmanuel. Ano po ang ibig sabihin ng Emmanuel? God is with us.

Have we ever asked why? Among the many names that can be available for God, why Emmanuel? Why? Why God with us, to this baby who is to be born in the Blessed Virgin Mary? Why Emmanuel?

We go back to the Scriptures, particularly to the creation story. What is the one thing that Adam and Eve enjoyed the most in paradise? What? The Garden, the fruits? Yes, yes. But if you notice the one thing that Adam and Eve enjoyed the most, it was the presence of God. God was with them. They enjoyed it. They could not ask for more. The presence of God completed them. Now, what happened when God was away? It was the tragic moment, when they sinned, right? So you can imagine right now how essential, how vital God's presence is in our lives. 

 

If you look at the Gospel today, it talks about the presence of God that will complete us, that will fill our lives, more than the wealth, more than the power and possessions. That is why if you look at Scriptures from the Old Testament, it was all a search for the presence of God, a constant struggle for the presence of God.

Moses led the Israelites through the desert for a number of years, constantly in search for God's presence. And what did God do? He sent a lot of signs - the column of fire, the wind, the manna, the division of the Red Sea, instant food in the middle of the desert. These were all glimpses of God's presence. God sustained the Israelites with His truth, His presence that completes us and fills us more than anything else.

And then came the prophets, Moses and Joshua, and the others. The people were looking up to these prophets because for them, they are glimpses of God's presence. We can feel God in their words, in their directions, their instructions. St. John the Baptist, the last prophet, also had his disciples who followed him. Why? Because for them, John the Baptist represented God. He was a glimpse of God's presence. All along, my brothers and sisters, there was a search for God's presence.

No wonder, when God took the form of man, born by a virgin named Mary, the name given to this child who will be the Messiah is Emmanuel, which is 'God with us'. And if God is true yesterday, God is true even right now. Today. To us. You and me - we are in a constant struggle to find and feel God, to receive God's presence.

The thing is iba-iba nga lang ang nakikita nating presensiya ng Diyos. 'Yong iba, they are so much obsessed with their properties, 'yong hitsura, with relationships. Kasi these things also give us a glimpse of God's presence. But it is a misunderstanding, a misrepresentation, when in fact, God is with us already. More than our possessions, more than our relationships, God is already present. We don't have to look for him anywhere else. God is with us.

Kaya alam ninyo, dito sa mesang ito (puts his hand on the altar), the Eucharist is being offered here. No wonder this great sacrament given to us is known as a remembrance. This is the very presence of God in the form of bread and wine. So makikita natin ang connection. The Church gives so much value, so much reverence on the Holy Eucharist, because in here, we see Jesus and the fullness of His holiness. At hindi lang natin nakikita kundi natatanggap pa natin. That is why whenever we receive the Eucharist, it brings us so much joy that should give us a feeling of completeness, of fulfillment. It is to be able to see and even receive God, who, in history, ay napakailap, para doon sa mga nauna sa atin. Jesus's presence ended all the struggle in the history of salvation. 

We may, at times, misrepresent God through other possessions, but know that it is God who we are looking for and searching for. We may be so much attached with our position, with the power. We could not let go, when in fact, it is God whom we are looking for, and so much thirsting for. The presence of God. And this is the reason of the celebration of Christmas. We will celebrate, more than the gifts and the Christmas carols, the reunions. More than that. Christmas is celebrating God with us. God being with us, being present right here, right now. Napakahalaga niyan.

And that brings to us a challenge, to value and to put reverence to the Eucharist always, kahit saang simbahan tayo pumunta. Kahit hindi masyadong magaling ang choir. Kahit hindi masyadong pogi 'yong (pause) choir. (laughs) Ang mahalaga doon ay ang Eucharist - the presence of God, available for me for free. 

It also poses another challenge, and what is that? It is for us to be present also to others. I am sure we are already busy with our parties. But no - please do not forget, do not neglect the very important people to us. We must render our presence to them, to our families, to our loved ones. Ang daming nasalanta ngayon, may sunog, mayroon pang mga naghihikahos na biktima ng bagyong Pablo. In some form, we can let them feel that we are with them and that God is present in them. Huwag nating i-diet ang ating kapwa sa ating presensiya. Huwag nating sabihin "kailangan ma-miss nila ako". Meron tayong ganoong style eh. Let us be generous with our presence. 

I will share with you a story, when I was in college, I was in the College of Engineering in UST. We met an accident. We had a car accident. My face hit the wind shield of the car. I was rushed to the UST hospital. I learned during the travel to the hospital that I already had lots of lacerations on my face and blood flowed to my polo, to my pants. The emergency staff in the hospital did not want me to see myself in the mirror. I wanted to see, but nobody dared to give me a mirror, I don't know why. And I had my two classmates there. I could not open my eyes anymore. Ang sakit na ng mga mata ko because of the blood.

I realized during those moments, those crucial moments, my two classmates stayed with me. They were with me, sila ang nagtawid sa akin noong mga panahong 'yon. They were just holding my hands and from time to time, they would allow me to listen, to hear their voice. I was so afraid, but their presence was so enough for me. At talaga naman pong punit punit ang mukha ko, just imagine sa dami naman ng tatama sa wind shield, mukha ko pa. (laughs) And the doctors were so confused. How can we treat the face of this boy to its original form or appearance?

I remember they told me the story that the doctors had a magazine. And there in the middle, merong picture. Sino ba 'yong napangasawa ni Lucy? (loud laughs) Ah, Richard. I'm sorry medyo nalilimutan ko na. It was the picture of Richard Gomez. And you know what? That helped the doctors (laughs) bring back the pieces of my face. (laughs) Kaya ito na pala. See? (laughs) Ang layo di ba? (more laughs)

But you know my dear brothers and sisters, it is about the presence of God. In this mass, let us cherish this moment of being with Jesus in the Eucharist. This is the fulfillment, the completeness of who we are, of our existence. The presence of God - in its majesty and holiness - with us.

Gospel Reflection

December 17, 2012

Monday – Advent – Year of Faith

Second Day – Misa de Gallo

by Rev. Father David "Dave" T. Concepcion

(Spiritual Director, Holy Apostles Senior Seminary, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Center, Guadalupe, Makati City)5:30AM Mass, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

Reading 1 Gn 49:2, 8-10

Jacob called his sons and said to them: "Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. "You, Judah, shall your brothers praise --your hand on the neck of your enemies; the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah, like a lion's whelp, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts--who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, While tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people's homage."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17

R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Gospel Mt 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

HOMILY

I have brought with me our seminarians from the Holy Apostles Seminary, for two reasons. Mangangaroling kami, pero mangangampanya kami na baka mayroon kayong kapatid, anak o boyfriend (laughs) na gustong magpari. 

Brothers and sisters, this is the second day of our novena and hopefully, I pray that you will be able to complete it. Please complete it, regardless of the struggle. Because as I have already explained to you, the 9-day novena represents the 9 months that Jesus was in the womb of Mary. Kaya pag nag-absent kayo sa isa, kulang na ng isang buwan si Hesus. Kaya ho huwag kayong a-absent. 

Yesterday, the Gospel talked about joy. Joy as a law from God, joy as an exhortation from God. But you can never give joy, without being responsible. You have to be responsible with your people. Kailan man ay hindi ka magiging masaya, kung wala ang iyong kaukulang pananagutan sa iyong kapwa. By simply sharing your cloth, by living a life of righteousness, by not extorting on people, falsely accusing people. In one simple term, live a righteous life.

We have heard the genealogy of Jesus. And there are three things that I would like you to think upon. First, in the genealogy of Jesus, you don't have names of perfect people. Even in the genealogy of Jesus, you can find prostitutes, prophets who turned away from God, people who were committing adultery. What I'm trying to say, my brothers and sisters is, you don't have a perfect past, but God has given you the power to make your future. Hindi nila mababago ang iyong kahapon, kahit gaano kapangit ang inyong lahi, ngunit may kapangyarihan kang gawing maganda ang iyong bukas. 

Palagi ko po itong sinasabi. Wala na pong perpektong tao ngayon. Ang mga perperkto ngayon, apelyido na lang, ano po? So don't expect that you will have a perfect husband, or a perfect wife, or perfect children, or perfect parents. Kahit sa simbahan, walang perpektong pari, walang perpektong nagse-serve, at walang perpektong nagsisimba. Kung kayo po ay kaanib sa isang komunidad, walang perpektong komunidad. 

Sometimes, the imperfection that we complain about in life is simply about ourselves. We can never change people. Don't wait for other people to change, because the only person we can change is ourselves. And in changing ourselves, others might change. Huwag ninyo pong antayin na magbago ang ibang tao, bago kayo magbago.

The second point I would like to stress on the genealogy is that, we have to understand that the choices we make, will either bring a curse or a blessing, not only to ourselves but even to the generations that come after us. Sin will always bring curse. Whether you like it or not, the choices of our leaders will either bring us curse or blessing in the future. Kaya nga po magandang ipaalala dito, mas maganda sa wikang Tagalog, 'sa mga magulang na kumain ng hilaw na ubas, ang mga anak ang nangangasim'. Ano po ang ibig sabihin nito? Kapag ang magulang ang nagkamali, kadalasan, ang anak ang nagdurusa.

It is good to ask ourselves, my dear friends, my dear brothers and sisters - will my choices make the generations after me curse themselves? Anuman ang pinagpipilian natin ngayon, may kapalit na bukas. Life is like a stick. You cannot simply pick up the other end and leave the other end behind. There are always consequences of our actions. Kaya't pagnilayan po - pagnilayan kung ano ang inyong ginagawa.

Sabi nila, hindi ka nakakapamili ng kamag-anak. You have no right to choose your own siblings, no right to choose your own parents, no right to choose your own children. Sa mga magulang dito, nakapamili ba kayo ng anak? Yes, you don't have the power to make a choice over your own relatives, but you have the power to make a choice over your friends. They say five years from now, your life will be dictated by the books you read and the friends you are with. May kasabihan tayo, 'birds of the same feather flock together'. Pero totoo din po ang kasabihan, birds of the same flock, feather together. Ang magkakakulay, madalas magkakasama, di po ba? Pero 'yong madalas magkakasama, nagkukulayan. Kaya ang tanong dito? Sino po ba ang ating mga pinipili? Sabi nga nila, the word 'osmosis' simply means nagiging kamukha mo ang madalas mong kasama. 

Kaya ang mag-boyfriend or girlfriend, madalas na sinasabihan ninyo, 'uy magkamukha na kayo'. Pero bakit kung mag-asawa na, hindi na nagiging magkamukha? Pagnilayan ninyo 'yon. Sabi nga noong parokyano ko, "Father, bakit kaya 'yong asawa ko, kamukha ng kapitbahay namin?" (laughs) Magandang itanong 'yon, hindi po ba? (more laughs) 'Yong mga anak po ninyo, sino ang nagiging kamukha? Gusto nyo bang sila ay katulad ninyo? How come they look different, they think different, they make their choices different?

Third point that I would like you to think about, my brothers and sisters, is this. Yes, it is true, that all things work for good to those who love them. That is always true. In spite of our sinfulness, God will continue to bring us back to what is right. But as God tries to correct the wrongs of our lives, we continue to suffer the consequences of our sins. Pinipilit itama ng Diyos ang mga pagkakamali ni David, but it took 28 generations in order to reach the birth of Christ. From David to the Babylonian exile is 14 generations, from the Babylonian exile to the birth of Christ is another 14 generations. Can you imagine how long it takes to correct a generation that had made a wrong choice? Hindi porke nagsisi na, pwede na ulit.

Mga minamahal kong mga kapatid, walang iba ho itong sinasabi kundi - hindi lahat nang nagkamali ay nagkasala, pero lahat nang nagkasala, nagkamali. Pag nagkamali, dapat itinatama. Kapag nagkasala, dapat ihinihingi ng tawad. But the only wrong we can correct are the wrongs we can accept. The only sin that God cannot forgive are the sins that we refuse to ask for forgiveness. Kahit kailan, hindi natin pwede itama ang isang mali na hindi natin kayang aminin. At kahit kailan, hindi natin pwedeng ihingi ng tawad sa Diyos ang mga kasalanang sabi nga ay ayaw nating ilapit sa Kanya. Sabi nga ni Barbara Streisand, "There are no mistakes in life, but only lessons to learn."

Sana po, sa tuwing may pagkakamali, nagtatanong ako. Ano kaya ang itinuturo ng Diyos sa akin? Ang palagi ko pong example diyan, ay 'yong nagtitimpla ng kape. Pagkatapos pong ilagay ang kape sa tasa, pupunta kayo sa dispenser, at instead na mainit na tubig ang mailagay ninyo, malamig ang nailagay ninyo sa inyong tasa. Hindi po kasalanan 'yon. May tawag do'n, ano po? (laughs) Pagkakamali ang tawag do'n. (more laughs) Hindi lahat nang nagkamali ay nagkasala, pero lahat nang nagkasala, nagkamali.

Mga minamahal kong mga kapatid, sa gitna ng ating mga pagkukulang, huwag nating kalimutan na mayroon pa ring Diyos na patuloy na nagmamahal sa atin. Noong siya ay seminarista pa, si Cardinal Chito Tagle ay lumikha ng isang awit. Sabi niya, (Father Dave sings.) "Musmos ka pa lamang, minahal na kita......Sa bawat tawag mo, ika'y malayo, hindi manlalamig, ako'y naririto." Sa gitna ng ating mga pagkakamali, patuloy na tumatawag ang Diyos. Kasi alam ng Diyos na kung ikaw ay magpapatuloy, ang pinaparusahan mo lang ay ang iyong sarili.

Mga minamahal kong mga kapatid, kahit kailan hindi nanakot ang Diyos. Pero ang Diyos ay nagmistulang alipin para maintindihan at maramdaman mo ang Kanyang pagmamahal. Nagmistulang mangingibig upang ikaw ay tumugon nang mayroon ding pag-ibig. 

Gospel Reflection

December 16, 2012

Third Sunday of Advent – Year of Faith

First Day – Misa de Gallo

by Rev. Fr. Benjo Fajota (Vice Rector of the EDSA Shrine)

Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

Reading 1 Zep 3:14-18a

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.

Responsorial Psalm Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6.

R. (6) Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Reading 2 Phil 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Lk 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

HOMILY

Ngayong ikatlong linggo ng Adviento, ang narinig po natin sa ating mga pagbasa ay 'magalak kayo'. Gaudete Sunday po ang tawag sa third Sunday of Advent, kaya sinasabing 'gaudeamus igitur', therefore, let us rejoice.

Tingnan nyo nga ang mga katabi ninyo, kung may kagalakan sa kanilang mga mukha. Eh bakit parang Biyernes Santo ang ating mga hitsura (laughs)? Nagagalak at ipinahayag ang Mabuting Balita. Nakikita ba sa atin, o ang mas magandang tanong, nadarama ba natin ang kagalakan sa ating puso?

Mayroon pong isang pari, tinanong niya 'yong mga bata sa kanyang parokya. Sinabi niya, "Ikatlong linggo na ngayon ng Adviento, malapit na Siyang dumating. Kilala ba ninyo kung sino ang darating?" At sabay-sabay sumagot ang mga bata, "Si Santa Claus po." (laughs) Kung mga bata ang sumagot noon, cute. Pero pag kayong mga adult na ang sumagot noon, nakakaawa, nakakahiya. Hindi ba natin alam kung sino ang darating at paano natin Siyang pinaghahandaan sa kanyang pagdating?

Kadalasan po ay baka nauubos na ang ating panahon, ang ating pera, ang ating energy at effort, sa kabibili ng mga kung anu-ano na sa palagay natin ay makakapagpaligaya sa atin at sa ating mga mahal sa buhay. May kanya-kanya tayong listahan kung ano ang ating gusto. Nabanggit ko nga po last Sunday iyong nabasa ko sa isang pahayagan na limang bagay na gustong matanggap ng mga tao ngayong Pasko. Number one ang mga gadgets, laptops, cellphones, cameras. Sumunod ang sapatos, damit, travel abroad, books and money. Nakakaawa. Nakakalimutan na natin - ano ba talaga ang tunay na paghahanda?

Kaya dito sa Ebanghelyo, narinig natin, tinanong ng mga alagad si Juan Bautista, "Ano po ang dapat naming gawin?" At napakasimple ng sinabi ni Juan Bautista. 'Kung mayroon kang dalawang baro, ibigay mo ang isa. Kung mayroon kang sobrang pagkain, ibahagi mo.' At sa mga tax collectors, huwag kayong sisingil nang higit pa sa dapat. At 'yong mga sundalo, pinagsabihan niya, huwag kayong mangingikil o magpilit na humingi ng pera. 

Sinasabing magalak na tayo, magdiwang na tayo dahil nalalapit na ang pagdating ng ating Manunubos. Ngunit paano ba tayo dapat magalak? Ako po ay magbibigay ng tatlong mungkahi.

Una, let us pray again. Manalangin tayo. Nagbibigay ba tayo nang at least 15 minutes a day, para makausap ang ating Panginoon? Tumatahimik ba tayo? Pumupunta ba tayo sa isang lugar o private place na tayo lang ang makikipag-usap sa Diyos nang walang abala, nang walang cell phone na sasagutin mo agad at parang mas mahalaga pa kaysa sa pakikipag-usap mo sa Panginoon? Ang suggestion ko, pumunta kayo sa isang tahimik na lugar sa inyong bahay, magdala kayo ng kandila, sindihan ninyo, maglagay kayo ng crucifix, at buksan ninyo ang inyong Bibliya. Kahit once a year ay buksan natin ang Bibliya. Magdasal tayo sa Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang salita. At magugulat tayo, habang kinakausap natin ang Diyos, 'yong 15 minutes, baka umabot pa ng isang oras.

Pag kausap mo ang iyong minamahal, hindi ka nabo-bore. Ano ho? Kahit dalawang oras mong kasama ang iyong mahal sa buhay, parang kulang na kulang pa rin. Pero bakit pag ang Diyos ang kausap natin, na makapangyarihan sa lahat na dapat binibigyan natin ng ating atensiyon at focus, at buo nating lakas, pag-iisip at kaluluwa, bakit hindi natin Siya pagbigyan, kahit 15 minutes lang na walang aabala sa inyo?

Ang susunod pong tanong ay - ano po ang ating ipapanalangin? Una, magpasalamat tayo sa lahat ng biyayang dumarating sa atin. Ang binibilang kasi natin kadalasan ay kung ano ang wala sa atin at kung ano ang mayroon ang iba. Let us start counting our blessings, and be thankful, grateful for all of them. Ilista natin ang lahat ng iyon. Nakakakita ako, nakakagalaw ako nang normal, nakakapagsalita ako, nakakalakad ako, kumpleto ang kamay at paa ko. Hindi po ba dapat ipagpasalamat iyon? Paggising natin sa umaga, ang dami dami nating biyayang tinatanggap, pero binabalewala natin iyon. A lot of times, we take for granted the blessings that we receive, or we totally ignore them. At binibigyan natin ng pansin 'naku, bago na naman ang kotse ng kapitbahay ko, bago na naman ang kanilang refrigerator, may dineliver na namang bagong kasangkapan sa kanila'. A thankful heart, is a joyful heart. Ang taong marunong magpasalamat, ay may kagalakan sa kanyang puso.

Ikalawang ipapanalangin natin ay lahat ng ating mga pagkakamali. Tignan natin, suriin natin, usigin natin ang ating mga konsiyensiya. Ano ang ating mga kasalanan, ano ang ating mga kahinaan? Huwag tayong naka-focus sa pagkakamali ng ibang tao. Makikita ninyo, pag binigyan ninyo ng atensiyon ang inyong mga kamalian, pagkukulang at kahinaan, wala na kayong panahong makita ang kahinaan at pagkakamali ng ibang tao, dahil sa sarili pa lang natin ay madami na.

Ikatlo, ipanalangin din natin na tayo ay magkaroon ng pagkakataon at magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na magpatawad sa mga taong nakagawa ng pagkakamali sa atin. Kahit isang beses lang sa isang taon, ating gawin na ito ay ating pagtuunan ng pansin. Sino ang mga taong hindi ko kinakausap? Sino ang mga taong hindi ko binabati? Sino 'yong mga taong pag nasalubong ko ay parang hindi ko nakita? Bigyan natin ng puwang ang kapatawaran sa ating mga puso. 

Ikalawa, balikan natin ang ating pamilya. Buuin nating muli ang ating pamilya. Palakasin nating muli ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga magulang sa kanilang mga anak. Marami pong pwersa na talagang pilit na tinatapon na ang halaga ng pamilya. Pinagkakawatak-watak ang mag-asawa. Sinasabi, pag hindi ka na mahal ng asawa mo, pag mayroon na siyang ibang kinakasama, hiwalayan mo na siya. Pag masyadong makulit ang mga magulang mo, huwag mo silang sundin, magrebelde ka.

Sa hapag-kainan ay pagkakataon po nating makipagbalitaktakan at makipag-bonding sa ating mga magulang, sa ating mga anak, sa ating pamilya. Mayroon pa ho ba tayong oras na kumain nang sabay-sabay? Tayo bang mga magulang ay may panahon pang mangaral o magturo sa ating mga anak? O ang bahay natin ay parang boarding house -may pagkain sa lamesa, kakain kung sino ang nariyan, at kung wala naman ay ok lang? Mas gusto na nakaharap sa TV, sa cellphone, kaya nagkakasama man sa lamesa, pindot dito, pindot doon.

Balikan po natin ang ating pamilya at balikan ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa kanila. Kapag malakas po ang ating pamilya, malakas ang ating lipunan. Mayroong isang sociologist ang nagsabing, "What is happening in the society, is a mirror of what is happening in the family." Kung may pagkakawatak-watak sa lipunan, ay dahil ganoon din ang nangyayari sa pamilya - mayroong awayan, bangayan, pag-iinggitan. Let us go back to the roots of our most basic unit of society, and that is the family. 

At ang ikatlo, narinig natin sa Ebanghelyo, sinabi ni Juan Bautista, 'kung mayroon kayong dalawang baro, ipamahagi mo ang isa'. Kaya't ang ating pong panawagan, ang ating pong gagawin, let us count our blessings and count the times that we have been so richly blessed. At kaya kayo biniyayaan ay upang ibahagi ito sa ibang tao. The blessings that you receive are not for you alone, but to be shared to others. You are mere stewards of those riches, of those blessings.

Mga kapatid, itanong natin sa ating sarili, mamaya bago tayo matulog. What must I do to gain joy? Ano ang dapat kong gawin para magalak ako ngayong Kapaskuhan? Baka maubos na ang ating panahon, matapos na ang Adviento, dumating na ang Pasko at matapos din, hindi man lang sumagi sa atin ang tunay na diwa ng Kapaskuhan. Amen.

Gosple Reflection

December 15, 2012

Saturday – Advent – Year of Faith

by Rev. Fr. Catalino Arevalo (Society of St. Paul)

12:15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

Reading 1 Sir 48:1-4, 9-11

In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord's word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob. Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Gospel Mt 17:9a, 10-13

As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

HOMILY

Father Nilo asked me to celebrate this mass with him and the fathers here present. I guess it is because I am the only one among them who is present here for the dedication of this chapel and also for the small blessing ceremony because the chapel was not yet fully ready on December 8 prior to this particular feast. 

This area was all full of grass during the EDSA Revolution. All these buildings did not exist. It was, I think, a Sunday afternoon when thousands and thousands of people were pouring in from all over. They were gathered here and the tanks arrived. And the fear was the tanks will open fire on the crowd. The crowd was present here by the thousands, with no weapons but rosaries in their hands. If I am not mistaken, the picture that was taken of two nuns from St. Paul kneeling in front of one of the tanks, took place that particular Sunday.

The people were saying the rosary over and over again, for a peaceful solution to this revolt against the dictatorship. And it was a miracle that none of the tanks opened fire, not a single soldier shot a gun, and they withdrew after a few hours of peaceful confrontation. 

After the revolution was over, Bishop Gabriel Reyes was appointed by Cardinal Sin to start making negotiations and setting up the plans for this oratory, for this church. But just a week before this church was to be opened, there was the last coup d' etat which the military set up in Makati. We were having a meeting at the Villa San Miguel with Cardinal Sin and I remember sitting beside Bishop Cornelio de Wit of Antique. He turned to me and said, "Look, there is shooting in Makati. And we are supposed to open the church within in a few days." And on the television, we could see soldiers shooting across the street, soldiers on the other side.

Cardinal Sin overheard Bishop de Wit saying that, and he said, "It will be over by December 8." Bishop de Wit turned to me and said, "Either the Cardinal is just bluffing or the Lord is telling him something that He is not telling us." And sure enough, before December 8, the fight stopped. Cardinal Sin decided to have a very simple blessing of the almost finished church on December 8, then the solemnification was done on this day. Bishop Soc was then his secretary.  

Cardinal Sin said, "This place will be a place of prayer. It will never be empty. This is the place where the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary overturned a dictatorship in peace. People will flock here, and this will be the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace."

I don't know exactly by memory the quotation from, I think, the Book of Second Chronicles, which you can see on the side of this church facing Ortigas. It runs something like, 'If My people, upon whom My name is called, shall humble themselves and pray, seek My face, repent from their sins and turn to Me, I will hear their prayer from heaven. I will forgive them their sins, and I will bring the land back to them." That quotation from the Old Testament was repeated over and over again in the weeks that preceded the EDSA Revolution. And it was a kind of theme song for the EDSA Revolution.

Months later, I met Bishop Cornelio de Wit again and he said, "The Cardinal was certain that everything will be over before December 8. He must have been giving something to the Lord that the rest of God could not give. Now I am convinced that the Cardinal is hearing something from the Lord, which the rest of us could not hear."

All of us took part, by God's grace, in that peaceful revolution, and we felt sincerely that at that moment, God really stepped into our history. Two or three months later, I remember that in Novaliches, there was a workshop of about 300 people. And there was a Lutheran missionary there, with his wife and children, taking part in the workshop. After I have spoken, the missionary asked me and said, "Father, do you think there was really a miracle in EDSA?" And I said, "Pastor, you were there. What do you think?" And he started to cry and said, "If there was no miracle there at the EDSA Revolution, when God stepped into our history, I don't think there will be any miracles at all."

Today, we thank God that, through the efforts, especially of Cardinal Sin, this oratory, this church was built, as a remembrance of God's stepping into our history, who gave us peace, who gave us freedom. Let us remember the words of Cardinal Sin, "This church will never be empty." In this place, people will remember that God stepped into our history to save us. And people will know that when we come to this church and pray, and approach God with great humility, God will forgive our sins, He will hear our prayers, and restore our land to us. He will give us what we ask for, if it will help us in our pilgrimage toward the Kingdom. He will give us what we pray for, in this church, where Mary interceded for us, where thousands of people were here in this area, praying to Our Lady Queen of Peace.

For all of us who are here, the same is true. If we turn to God, if we turn humbly with our hearts, if we repent from our sins, and pray to God with humility and confidence to be with us, God will hear us. God will step into our history, whether it be our history as a people, or as individuals. God will give us the grace and blessings that we need.

It is good that you are here this afternoon, to remember that great grace, and to renew in our hearts, in this Year of Faith, the faith that God is with us and listens to our prayers, as long as our hearts are humble, and we have confidence in Him. Amen.