Gospel Reflection

December 22, 2012

Saturday – Advent – Year of Faith

Seventh Day – Misa de Gallo

by Rev. Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari

(Assistant Commissioner for Office Administration, Commission on Liturgy, Archdiocese of Manila
8:00PM Anticipated Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

Reading 1 1 Sm 1:24-28

In those days, Hannah brought Samuel with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD." She left Samuel there.

Responsorial Psalm 1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd

R. (see 1a) My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
"My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
"The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
"The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
"He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Gospel Lk 1:46-56

Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever."

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

HOMILY

For the past days, laman ng mga balita at mga newspapers 'yong ating idea na ang December 21, 2012 ay end of the world na. Some people brought with them that idea, that is why they are scared of this day.

This morning, sa tabi ng aming seminary sa Makati, mayroon akong ikinasal. Before the wedding, I was talking to one of the wedding coordinators in that parish, and she told me, "Father, kahapon po, maraming tumawag at nag-cancel ng kasal ngayong araw na ito, because they are afraid na ngayong araw na ito ay talagang magugunaw na ang mundo."

Pero mga kapatid, itong ating Ebanghelyo ay kakaiba. Bakit po? When you look around, nandoon ang takot, ang anxiety na ngayon ay end of the world na. But when you look at our Gospel, you can see the story of two women, Mary and Elizabeth, who both experience joy in their hearts. It is because both of them received blessings from God. Hindi takot ang naramdaman nila, kundi kaligayahan.

For this 7th night of our novena masses in honor of Mary, maganda nating tignan - paano ba tayo lalago sa mga biyaya ng Panginoon? If we look at our Gospel today, there are four things about blessings.

First, we are told that all things are a blessing on humankind, coming from God. When Elizabeth saw Mary, she said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." It is very clear. "Pinagpala ka, hindi lamang sa babaeng lahat, kundi maging ang laman ng iyong sinapupunan." When we look at the old Testament, we see the story of Eve. Because of the sin of Eve, everyone falls, everyone sins. It was the start of the original sin. During that time, people thought that we have already been forgotten by God, and that God has cursed humankind. But if we look at our Gospel today, one thing is clear. And that is - God has never forgotten us. God is not angry at us. In fact, God is blessing us. God is reminding us that at this season of Advent, as we prepare ourselves for Christmas, we should see our life as a blessing coming from God. It is not a curse.  

There is this story of a traveler. He was riding his donkey and was holding his lighted lamp and his rooster. He went to a village, but nobody wanted to accept him, as there was already full occupancy in that area. And so he went to the middle of the forest to spend the whole evening there. Before he slept, he prayed and read the Bible using his lighted lamp. But after a few minutes, humangin nang malakas at namatay ang sindi ng kanyang lamp, pati ang lamp ay natumba at nabasag. There was total darkness everywhere, and yet the traveler said, "God is good." When the traveler was asleep, some people came and took away his rooster. When he saw that his rooster is gone, he said, 'God is good." When he awoke the following day, he noticed that his donkey is also gone. So he has to walk as he continues his journey. When he noticed that the donkey was gone, he said, "God is good."

The traveler went back to the village which did not want to accept him. To his suprise, the whole town was burned down, because during that evening, may mga dumating na mga magnanakaw. Ang naisip niya, kung siya ay nasa loob noong town na iyon kagabi, siguradong patay din siya. Ang sabi sa balita, ang mga magnanakaw ay nagpunta rin sa gitna ng forest. Kaya't nasabi niya, "Siguro, kundi namatay ang aking sindi ng ilaw, siguradong malalaman nila na may taong nakatira doon. Kung hindi nawala ang aking rooster, tiyak na iyon ay mag-iingay. At kung hindi rin nawala ang aking donkey, mapapansin nilang mayroong tao sa gubat, at siguradong sinaktan na nila ako, o di kaya ay pinatay." After knowing all these things, the traveler said, "God is good."

My dear brothers and sisters, the Gospel is reminding us that as we continue with our novena masses, in this story of the Visitation, Mary is telling us that everything is a blessing coming from God. Kung mula 'yan sa Panginoon, hindi iyan sumpa, kundi iyan ay tunay na biyaya.

Second, in the Gospel today, we can see that there is a blessing on humble servants. After Elizabeth said, "Blessed are you among women....", there was a shift when she said, "But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Elizabeth was humble. This is another reminder for us that in this season of Advent, we should realize how much we are loved by God, that we are forgiven by God. And that because of that love, he gave His only Begotten Son for all of us. Kaya naman ang ating kababaang loob, at hindi ang pride, ang dapat na lumalago sa atin. The poet Ravindranath Tagore said, "We come nearest to the great, when we are great in humility."

Two years ago, I was invited to do the blessing of the National Bookstore branch in Glorietta. Noong ako ay dumating, medyo maaga-aga pa, dumating din si Nanay Coring. At kinakausap niya lagi ang mga pari. Lumapit siya sa akin and told me, "Alam ninyo Father, 75 years na po itong bookstore na ito. At marami na po kaming pinagdaanang problema sa aming buhay. We started small, maliit po lamang ang negosyong ito." At sinabi ni Nanay Coring na sa simula pa lamang ay hindi na sila pinabayaan ng Panginoon. Kaya ang sabi niya, every time na may bubuksang branch ng bookstore, dapat na mayroong misa or mayroon man lang blessing, to remind them na ang lahat ay biyayang galing sa Diyos, at kung wala ang Diyos, wala ang kanilang magandang buhay. It is not through our own efforts that we succeed in life. Ah kasi magaling ako eh. Kasi masipag ako eh. Ma-abilidad kasi ako eh. When we look at our Gospel, there was Elizabeth, growing in humility, when she saw the mother of the Savior visiting her. We should grow, not in pride, but in humility.

Third, blessings defined the whole family of Elizabeth. Elizabeth was blessed that Mary visited her. But we also know that Elizabeth was already old and barren. Her husband, Zechariah, was also old. And people during that time thought that they were forsaken by God. Pero sa pagdalaw ni Maria, ang mabuting balita ng Panginoon ay hindi lamang kay Maria, kundi sa buong pamilya ni Elizabeth. Kaya ramdam na ramdan niya ang kagalakan. Sabi nga ni Elizabeth, "The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby stirred in my womb for joy." The blessing was not only for Elizabeth, not only for Zechariah, but even for John the Baptist, when he was still in Elizabeth's womb - the whole family.

Ano po ba ang nagiging sanhi ng kaligayan sa ating buhay? What gives us joy? Our Gospel for today shows that the presence of God gives joy to the family. 'Yong naroon ang Panginoon, masaya na sila. 'Yong nararamdaman nila ang Diyos, naroroon ang kanilang kapayapaan.

I once gave a retreat to students. And I won't forget this student, who came from a wealthy family. During the sharing session, she said that they had an exposure activity at a squatter family. She said she was touched by the families living in that area. Why? She said that their house is very big, their table is very long, but every time dinner comes, only a few of family members are there. After eating, we go to our individual rooms without talking to each other. 'Yong pinuntahan niyang bahay sa squatter community ay napakaliit, kakaunti lamang ang pagkain. Ang daming kanin pero kakaunti ang ulam. Pero sabi niya, nakaka-inggit, kasi noong sila ay kumain, sila ay kumpleto, sila ay sama-sama, sila ay napakasaya. And then the student cried and said, "Where I am living right now is not a home. I only live as if in a dormitory."

Ito po ay isang paala-ala sa atin. How is our family? Sana po, in this season of Christmas, hindi mawala ang communication. Because that is what God did to us. By giving to us His only Son, God communicated to us. Siya ay nakipag-usap sa atin. Siya ay naging kasama at kapiling natin. I read a quote from a book that says, "It is God's joy that remains in us, that makes our joy full." Kahit marami tayong gamit, kahit marami tayong pagkain, kahit marami tayong damit, kung wala ang Panginoon sa ating buhay, wala pa rin ang tunay na kaligayahan.

The fourth and last thing in our Gospel is this. Blessings begin with faith. At the end of the Gospel, Elizabeth said, "Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her will be fulfilled." When we go back to the Annunciation scene, I doubt if Mary understood everything. Ang daming sinabi sa kanya ng anghel ng Panginoon, that she will be the mother of the Savior, that he will be great. But at the end of the Annunciation, Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord, may it be done to me as you've said." 'Yon ang pananampalataya ni Maria. Hindi nga malinaw lahat, pero alam niya kung sino 'yong nangako, kung sino 'yong nagbitaw ng pangako. At 'yong kanyang pananampalataya ay nasa Diyos. Ang sinabi ng anghel kay Maria, "The Lord is with you.", two times. Mary will always remember that, anuman ang kanyang kaharapin sa buhay.

Noong isang araw, mayroon akong isang kaibigang babaeng lumapit sa akin, after the mass. She is undergoing chemotherapy. She was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. Ang sabi niya sa akin, "Father, hindi po natuloy ang chemotherapy sa akin this week, kasi po sabi ng doctor, kailangang ipahinga ko raw ang aking liver, at medyo mahina po ang aking katawan. Father, bakit ganoon? Kasi lahat planado na, eh. Dapat by February, tapos na ako sa aking chemo. But because of this thing, na hindi ako makapag-chemo this week, made-delay pa ang aking treatment. Planado na, Father, pero bakit biglang naiba?"

When my friend was telling me these things, I told her to give God a free hand. May mga pagkakataong mayroon tayong mga plano sa ating buhay. Pero paano kapag sinabi sa atin ng Panginoon, na "hindi pa, hindi pa iyan, siguro mahaba-haba pa"? Katulad po ni Maria, can we say, "Lord, may Your will be done.", because we know that at the end of the day, God knows what is best for us. In one quote that I read, ang sabi doon, "Faith makes things possible, not easy." May mga pagkakataong mahirap ang ating karanasan, mahirap dalhin, mahirap unawain. But in our Gospel, ano ang pinakita doon? Mary and Elizabeth were very much convinced that they received blessings from God.

Sana mga kapatid, ngayong Advent season, makita natin - ano bang biyaya mayroon tayo mula sa Diyos?

  

Gospel Reflection

December 21, 2012

Friday – Advent – Year of Faith

Sixth Day – Misa de Gallo

by Rev. Fr. Juan Manuel Perez

(Chaplain, Entrepreneurial Management Program, University of Asia and the Pacific)
5:00AM Mass – UA&P Chapel, Ortigas Pasig City

Reading 1 Sg 2:8-14

Hark! my lover--here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, "Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come! "For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see you, let me hear your voice, For your voice is sweet, and you are lovely."

or 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 Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

R. (1a; 3a) Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Gospel Lk 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

HOMILY

Mary is a woman of faith, a woman who believed what God promised her, even though what God asked from her were impossible things. She was told that she will be a mother, she will conceive, and she will remain a virgin. She was told that she will conceive the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, that she was to carry in her womb, her Creator. She was told that the old barren woman, her cousin Elizabeth, was in her sixth month of pregnancy.

Using reason, Mary could have said, "All these things are impossible. It doesn't make sense. Give me proof, something that, from the human point of view, will help me accept what I was told." But she did not. Mary accepted the will of God for her, with the confidence that God is almighty, and, therefore, nothing is impossible for God. Mary accepted the will of God. Hers was a faith that is manifested in deeds. And in today's Gospel, one of the manifestations of the faith of Mary is presented to us.

The Archangel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, an old woman, has conceived a son. That was impossible because Elizabeth was barren and way, way past the age of childbearing. When her husband, Zechariah, was told by the same Archangel Gabriel in the temple that his wife will conceive, he could not believe it. That is why, a little punishment was given to him and he remained mute. He lost his capacity to speak until their child was born.

Mary accepted the fact that her cousin, Elizabeth, has conceived, and she used her intellect to realize that the information was given to her so that she could do something about it. Therefore, in a hurry, without wasting time, Mary started a long journey to the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah. She was not told directly that she should go there and give a helping hand. Hers was an intelligent faith, a faith that blinds reason. And yet to the consequences of it. Mary was always ready to understand and carry out the will of God. She went to her cousin Elizabeth and remained with her for three months.  

It is very beautiful how the faith of Mary led her to service, led her to forget about herself, and to live her life thinking of others, with humility, spiritual service, generosity, and a spirit of sacrifice. All of us would have understood perfectly well if Mary would have said, "After having conceived in my womb the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, and be the mother of God, all I need to do now is rest, because I am carrying the Son of the Eternal Father, whose Kingdom will have no end." We would have understood if she remained resting, taking cared of, and not exerting any effort, but she did not act that way. The Holy Spirit prompted her to spend the first three months of her pregnancy, working, doing household chores, serving others, filling the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah with songs, with cheerfulness, with affection for two very special persons - one was mute and could not speak, and the other one was an old woman who is carrying her first child, and will deliver her first child. So in that house, she was carrying the burden of day-to-day activities. The meals, the laundry, the cleaning, fetching of the water.

And I am sure that the influence of Mary not only affected Zechariah and Elizabeth, but the entire neighborhood. She was new in that neighborhood - a very young, beautiful girl, who came to help her cousin. And the house got the joy of Mary. That house became the house of God, for a few months. Heaven was looking at the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah, as the house where God was living, where God is being carried by a woman - a woman of faith.

In your life, and mine, we have to accept what God has revealed to us. We have to be sensitive to those calls, to those demands, to those inspirations that God places in our life. Many times, those insinuations can be blocked, can be shelved, can be pushed aside, when there is an opportunity. But if we are men and women of faith, we pray. If we are attentive to God's inspiration, if we are docile, then we will discover calls from God. Perhaps calls to be more attentive to the needs of others, instead of being all wrapped up to ourselves. We should be very clear in understanding that we need to forgive and change our attitude towards people. At times, we are being demanded by God, in a very gentle manner, to be more generous in our spiritual sacrifice, in our self-denial.

At times, God unveils for us our vocation, His plans for us. And our action could be, "Yes, Lord, I exist to carry out Your will." Or our response could be, "Prove it. I want evidence of it. I cannot do anything unless you give me a sign."

Mary did not act like that. Mary received the word of God, the will of God, the plan of God for her. And she acted with faith, with trust, with confidence. That is why when Elizabeth saw Mary, she greeted her, "Blessed are you among all women", because Mary has believed in the message, in the plan that God has communicated to her.

With faith and trust in God, with confidence in doing the will of God, and in following the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we will never go wrong. And our life will also be a life of fruitfulness, a life of peace and joy. The Church needs men and women of faith. Not only men and women who accept the truth, but men and women who act to transform their entire life into an act of faith. Men and women who are attentive to the will of God, to the creations of God, to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and are willing to follow this inspiration with true faith.