Gospel Reflection

January 29, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Weekday

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

12:15PM Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

                         

Reading 1 Heb 10:1-10

Brothers and sisters: Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of them, it can never make perfect those who come to worship by the same sacrifices that they offer continually each year. Otherwise, would not the sacrifices have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer have had any consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is only a yearly remembrance of sins, for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats
take away sins. For this reason, when he came into the world, he said:

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.

First he says, Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in. These are offered according to the law. Then he says, Behold, I come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 40:2 and 4ab, 7-8a, 10, 11

R. (8a and 9a) Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R. Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly.
R. Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

 

Gospel Mk 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

HOMILY

There was once a Hindu and a Christian who were in a conversation. The Hindu wanted to be converted to the Christian faith. And so the Christian who was over eager and a little bit arrogant, said, "Ok, I want you to become a Christian, I will give you a Bible. Study this Bible and maybe, after some months, I will get back to you and see whether you have been a good Christian."

After some months, they met again. The over eager Christian asked the Hindu, "So, are you now a Christian?" The Hindu said, "Yes, yes. Actually I have been baptized at the nearest parish." Then the over eager Christian said, "Ok, let me test you....How many disciples did Jesus have?" And the Hindu could not recall. "What is the name of the mother of Jesus?" The Hindu could not recall either. "What is the name of the mother of John the Baptist?" The Hindu also could not recall. The Christian asked the Hindu many details about the Bible, and he could not answer the questions. And the Christian said, "So how could you call yourself a Christian, when you cannot even answer the basic facts about the Bible?" And then the Hindu said, "Well, I could not answer the questions that you asked me, but since I became a Christian, this is what I can say. I stopped cheating people. I stopped lying. I stopped my vices. I stopped hitting my wife. I guess you can call me a Christian because of that.".....End of the story. 

Now what is the story telling us? When I read this story, I remembered one old text message that I received. It says, "Well done is better than well said." Well done is better than well said. Most of our Christianity is at the level of the 'well said'. I am sure anyone of us here, if I ask you how many disciples did Jesus have, all of you can answer that question. If I ask you the name of the father and mother of St. John the Baptist, I'm sure all of you could answer that question. And if I ask you several facts on our Lord in the Bible, I'm sure most, if not all of you, can answer the question.

But remember the Christian principle: "Well done is better than well said." Our Responsorial Psalm says it well. "Here I am, Lord, I come to do Your will." 

In our Gospel for today, what did we hear? A controversy about Jesus and His relatives. Jesus was teaching, and His relatives came. Dumating sila doon. And the people said, "Lord, Your mother, and Your sisters and Your brothers are here." And then what did Jesus say? Who are my mother and my brothers? Who are my sisters? They are those who do the will of the Father. 

Jesus is telling us that our affinity, our identification, our claim towards Jesus, is not only at the level of the well said. 'Yong masasabi natin, "Oh, I know people. I know your relatives. I am your relative. I know things about you." That could be a part, but that is not all. And the heart of Christianity is what our Responsorial Psalm says. "Here I am, Lord, I come to do Your will." 

Whenever we go to mass, we hear the priest say at the time of Consecration, "Do this in remembrance of Me." Jesus said, "Do this." He did not say, "Memorize this", or "Put this into your memory, in remembrance of Me." Marami sa atin, marami tayong naaalala tungkol kay Hesus. Pero ang tunay na sukatan ng ating pagiging Kristiyano ay kung ito ay ating isinasabuhay. 

As we receive the Lord later on in Communion, let that be the grace that we will ask from the Lord. That we may translate into action the many things we know about the Lord at the level of our minds. May our minds and our hearts be one, as we continue our Holy Eucharist. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

January 28, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Weekday

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

by Rev. Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari

(Assistant Commissioner for Office Administration, Commission on Liturgy Minister,

Ministry on Liturgical Environment and Art,  Archdiocese of Manila)
5:30PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Heb 9:15, 24-28

Christ is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place  for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant,  those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages  to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
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. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

 

Gospel Mk 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin. For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

HOMILY

Jesus has always faced the opposition of religious leaders during His time. They say that Mark, the evangelist, has given five specific events in the ministry of Jesus where we can find the Scribes' accusations against Him. The first one is that Jesus forgives sins. That is why their accusation was blasphemy. Second, He eats with sinners. Their accusation was immorality. The third is, Jesus does not fast together with His followers, unlike the disciples of John. Their accusation was Jesus was being sacrilegious. The fourth is He was picking heads of grain, and the fifth is, he heals a man with a withered hand, where Jesus was being accused of breaking the law of the Sabbath. 

Following the line of thinking of St. Mark, he wanted to prove something, and that is, how the attitude of the Scribes progress against Jesus. Dalawang bagay ang mapapansin natin sa mga Eskriba noong panahon ni Kristo. 'Yong una, 'yong gradual hardening of heart. Unti-unting tumitigas ang kanilang puso para kay Kristo. Why? It is because they perceive Jesus as a threat. Sapagkat si Kristo ay maraming mga kinukuwestiyon tungkol sa batas na itinuturo ng mga Eskriba. Jesus was also questioning about the spirit of the Sabbath. Maraming mga bagay ang ginagawa nila dati na, noong dumating si Kristo, ay nagkaroon ng malaking katanungan para sa mga Hudyo. 

Pangalawa ay hindi matanggap ng mga Eskriba ang katotohanang ipinapahayag ni Kristo. That is why in the end, the truth, for them, is something subjective. They are after what they think, after what they feel, and not on what Jesus is telling them. 

That is why when you look at our Gospel, mayroong tatlong bagay tayong pwedeng mapuna. Tatlong letter 'C'. 

The first 'C' is confrontation. Ano ang sinasabi diyan? In our Gospel, we see Jesus doing good. He was curing people, He was expelling evil spirits. Marami siyang ginawang mabuti. Pero ang problema ay ang kanilang gustong makita ay hindi ang kabutihang ginagawa ni Kristo, kundi ang ka-liit-liitang bagay na maaari nilang makuha bilang puna laban kay Kristo. 'Yon po ay ating tignan sa ating Ebanghelyo. People are confronting Christ with anger in their hearts. Ang kanilang hinahanap ay hindi 'yong mabuti kay Kristo. Ang kanilang hinahanap ay di 'yong maganda kay Kristo, kundi kung ano ang pwedeng gamitin laban kay Kristo. Pero ang maganda kay Kristo ay ito. Jesus will never change what He is preaching, just because of the people around Him. Jesus always chooses fidelity to the truth, rather than popularity.

Alam po ninyo, mayroon po akong nabasang isang quote from an author, who said, "Jesus would not be controlled by others. He would speak the truth, even if it meant confrontation, and ultimately, offense....You must make it a purpose in your heart to speak the Word of God, and perform God's will, even at the risk of offending others."   

Ito po ay paala-ala sa atin. Are there times when we try to alter or change the good, because we choose popularity? Nakakahiya. Baka mabawasan ang mga taong naniniwala sa akin. Nakakahiya. Baka sila ay magalit sa akin. Kay Kristo, hindi 'yon ang Kanyang pinili. In our Gospel, He was confronting the Scribes, not with popularity, but with the truth. Confrontation. Sa ating buhay, pinipili ba natin kung ano 'yong tama, o kung ano 'yong magiging daan para tayo ay sumikat o maging mabango sa ating kapwa? 

The second 'C' in our Gospel is the 'counter evidence' coming from Jesus. Jesus knows where His power comes from. Pero ang problema ay hindi handa ang mga Scribes na humarap kay Kristo. Kaya nga ano ang kanilang ginawa? They resorted to slander or gossip. Why? In the Gospel, Jesus said, "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen against himself and is divided, he cannot stand. That is the end of him." Ano ang pinapakita doon? Whatever Jesus thinks is always logical. Pero ang problema sa mga Scribes and Pharisees ay ang katotohanan para sa kanila ay kung ano ang gusto nilang maging tama, hindi kung ano talaga ang tunay na tama. 

Ito ang pangalawang hamon ng ating Ebanghelyo. Are there times when we are confronted with the truth, but our reaction or response is not conversion, but to stop the proclamation of the truth? Patahimikin ang taong may dala ng Mabuting Balita? In our Gospel today, Jesus is ready. Sino ang hindi handa? 'Yong mga Eskriba na hindi handang tanggapin kung ano 'yong totoo, sapagkat hindi nila kayang baguhin ang kanilang mga sarili. 

Counter evidence of Jesus. Let us look at ourselves. May mga pagkakataon bang nalaman natin ang totoo, nalaman natin kung ano 'yong tama, pero ano ba 'yong ating binago? Binago ba natin 'yong tama, o binago natin 'yong ating buhay para maitugma kung ano 'yong tama?

The third 'C' in our Gospel is that we have a 'choice'. At the end of our Gospel, it was not Jesus who judged the Scribes; it was the Scribes who judged themselves. Why? Because after hearing Jesus' proclamation about the good, and about where His power comes from, it was up to the Scribes if they will follow Jesus or continue hating Jesus. In our Gospel, that is the problem. The Scribes connived with other leaders to put Jesus down. That was their choice. That is why at the end, Jesus said that there is an unforgivable sin. And what is that? The sin against the Holy Spirit. Why? Because the Holy Spirit reminds us of our own sinfulness. The Spirit convinces us about the truth. Kaya kapag 'yong tao ay manhid na sa Espiritu Santo, manhid na rin siya sa kung ano 'yong talagang tama. Kung ano 'yong talagang mabuti. Kaya kahit tayo ay gustong iligtas ng Panginoon, kung tayo mismo ang ayaw, at 'yon ang ating pinili, hindi pwedeng ipagpilitan ng Panginoon ang Kanyang sarili sa atin. 

Ito po 'yong pangatlong hamon sa atin. Are there times when we are given a choice, but at the end, we chose what we want, and not what is right and true? May pagkakataon din po ba na ating sinisisi ang ating kapwa, pati ang ating Panginoon? Every day, we are given a choice by God. But the question is - what do we choose?

Noong isang araw, nanood po ako ng sine. 'Yong pelikulang Les Miserables. Maybe you have seen that. We know that the story of Les Miserables is about a slave named Jean Valjean, played by Hugh Jackman. The slave was given parole. Sa simula ng pelikula, siya ay kinupkop ng isang simbahan para pakainin at patulugin. And while everyone was sleeping, ano ang kanyang ginawa? Ninakaw niya 'yong mga silverware ng simbahan, tsaka siya umalis. Noong siya ay nahuli ng mga pulis, ibinalik muli siya sa simbahan. At ang sabi ng mga pulis, "Bishop, sabi ng lalaking ito, ibinigay mo raw sa kanya itong mga silverware na ito." At ang sabi ng Obispo, "Tama, ibinigay ko nga 'yan sa kanya." Pero ang sabi niya doon sa slave, "Sandali lamang, sa pagmamadali mo ay may nakalimutan ka." Kinuha ng Obispo ang kanyang dalawang silver candle holder, at ang sabi niya, "Ito pa naman ang pinakamahal." And then ibinigay niya ito kay Hugh Jackman. And when he was giving it to Hugh Jackman, ano ang sabi ng Obispo? "Use this for your salvation."

Alam n'yo mga kapatid, no'ng narinig ko 'yon sa pelikula, sabi ko, tayo rin ay mayroong mga biyaya mula sa Panginoon. Mayroon tayong power, mayroon tayong position. Mayroon tayong intellect, mayroon tayong wisdom. Mayroon tayong talent and time. Do we use all these blessings for our salvation? Or at the end, are we being condemned because we use them not wisely, but selfishly?

At the end of the movie, there are two characters there - si Hugh Jackman, at tsaka si Russell Crowe (Javert). Si Hugh Jackman, because of that incident, nagbago talaga ang kanyang buhay. There was conversion. Hanggang siya ay makakatulong sa kanyang kapwa, ginagawa niya. Bakit? Kasi naramdaman niya 'yong awa, 'yong kapatawaran ng Panginoong Diyos. Pero ang nakakalungkot ay ang character ni Russell Crowe. Bakit? Sapagkat kahit siya'y isang commander, isang leader, siya ay alipin ng kanyang galit. Kahit na ano'ng mangyari, talagang gusto niyang hulihin at ibalik sa bilangguan si Hugh Jackman. 

Sa ating buhay, ganoon din. Mayroon tayong choice. Pwede tayong maging malaya, katulad ni Hugh Jackman, o pwede rin tayong maging alipin ng ating galit o sama ng loob, katulad ni Russell Crowe. 

May isa na naman po akong quote mula sa libro, at ang sabi roon, 'yong galit daw ay parang asido. Kapag yaan ay nilagay mo sa isang lalagyan, sinisira niya muna 'yong lalagyan, bago niya sirain 'yong iba. Tingin ko po sa ating buhay, ang galit ay ganoon din. It will destroy us first. It will destroy our heart, before it destroys other people. 

Sabi ng Ebanghelyo, 'yong galit ng mga Eskriba ay naging daan para sila ay masira kaysa kanilang masira si Kristo. 

Tatlong 'C' sa ating Ebanghelyo ang ating tatandaan. First, we see 'confrontation'. Sa ating buhay ba, do we choose fidelity to the truth, or popularity? Second, 'counter evidence'. Are we ready to face the truth, or at times, we resolve to slander and gossip? And the third is 'choice'. Every day, we can become better, because of God's mercy, or we can become bitter, because of our anger. 

Gospel Reflection

January 27, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

by  Rev. Fr. Rufino 'Jun' Sescon (Chaplain, Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel)

6:00PM Anticipated Sunday Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

                         

Reading 1 Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. He opened the scroll so that all the people might see it — for he was standing higher up than any of the people —; and, as he opened it, all the people rose. Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, “Amen, amen!” Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD, their faces to the ground. Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people: “Today is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep”— for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (cf John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Reading 2 1 Cor 12:12-30

Brothers and sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, is one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, “it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, “Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body, “it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you, “nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored; all the parts share its joy.

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

or 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27

Brothers and sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many. You are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.

Gospel Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He 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.”

HOMILY

Once again, good evening po sa inyong lahat. (People greet him but with seemingly low energy.) Mukhang mabigat ang problema ninyo yata. (laughs) Seryoso kayo. Matamlay. Good evening po ulit. Good evening po sa inyong lahat ! (People now greet enthusiastically). Ayan. It's very nice na, hindi lamang last Sunday tayo masaya dahil fiesta ni Sto. Nino. Dapat eh palagi tayong masigla, buhay at bata, katulad ni Sto. Nino. 

Perhaps we would ask, bakit kaya si Jesus, palaging bata? Bakit kaya si Jesus, palaging masigla? Siguro meron tayong magandang dapat matutunan sa Kanya. What is the secret of Jesus? Yes, perhaps in the Gospel, Jesus may have changed. He may have become a mature person. But that vibrant, that youthful spirit will always be there. What is the secret of Jesus?

I am reminded of a story of a guy - call him John, perhaps. He was a nominal Catholic. Yes, he was a Catholic, but he would just attend the rites and he would not understand anything that is happening. One day, he was sitting there at church. He noticed that the priest will be approached by people, and the priest would get something from the sacristy - a container - and he will sprinkle. He would hear the priest say, "These things are, before, secular objects, but now they become sacred objects." And then there was a man who approached the priest, and the priest said, "Before you are a sinner, now you are a saint." And then, he noticed that there was baptism, a baby was brought to the priest, and the priest said, "Before, you are a child of this world, now you are a child of God."

The man was puzzled. He said, "What's with that water?" So he approached the priest and asked him, "Why are you doing those things?" And the priest said, "You see, this is Holy Water. It changes things, and people. Before, those objects were secular objects, worldly objects. Now, they've become sacred objects. That man who asked to be blessed? Perhaps, he was a sinner. But now, he is a saint. That child was, before, a pagan, a non-believer. But now, by baptism, by water, the child is a child of God. This water brings change." So the man said, "Wow, the power of that water."

And so the man went back home and continued with his regular routine. - And you heard in the announcement, nanghihingi na po kami ng mga palaspas. Because next month, February 13, will be Ash Wednesday. - And so at home, his wife reminded him, "Darling, it's Ash Wednesday already. And I'd like to remind you, it's a day of fasting and abstinence." And the man said, "What does that mean?" And his wife said, "You cannot eat your favorite food. It's abstinence." The favorite food of the guy was steak. And he was thinking, "I cannot eat that?" 

So the man went to church, he looked for the priest, and he asked, "Father, can I have that water you were using a couple of days ago?" And so the priest gave him holy water. The man went back home. It was Tuesday evening, just before Ash Wednesday. The man went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and got the frozen meat. He laid it on the table and the man said some prayers. And after a few seconds, the man sprinkled the meat with holy water, and he said, "Now you are meat. With this water, you will become fish. (laughs) Tomorrow I can eat you still."

 

Change...Meet Jesus...When we say 'change for the better'...what change did Jesus have, from being simply a child to a devoted Son of God? In today's readings, we heard the power of the Word of God. Not just holy water. The real power to effect change can also come from the Word of God. 

That's why today, we celebrate National Bible Sunday. Baka nga ang iba sa atin - may mga gano'n sa mga Katoliko - ang akala natin ang Bible hindi pang-Katoliko. That is why we are reminded, let us re-claim the Bible. The Bible is ours. In fact, we Catholics are the first custodians of the Bible. We were the ones who really determined what compose the Bible. We did not receive the Bible in one form; they were all scattered. There were so many books of the Bible. It was the Catholic Church which compiled the Bible. 

Sa totoo lang, hindi ho ba, pag nakakita kayo ng taong may hawak na Bible, ano'ng sasabihin n'yo, "Ay, Born-Again siguro 'to. Ano kayang sekta 'to?" Nakakalungkot, kasi at the end of the day, the Bible is more associated with others, rather than with us. In fact, the Bible started with us. 

Choosing and Using a Bible - Read more click here

In today's Gospel, we heard Jesus Himself reading the Bible, a scroll from the prophet Isaiah. Jesus Himself read the Bible. So today, we ask the Lord for that grace, that we may learn to really read the Bible. Ngayon ho sa mga kasal, usong uso, may Bible na rin. Kasi gusto natin eh may mga dagdag na mga rituals. And I tell the couples I officiate, "Every now and then, I will check on that Bible." A Bible that always looks new, is a bad sign. Because it means that Bible is never used. I prefer a Bible that is worn out, and its pages almost torn out, because it means that Bible is read and consulted. 

One time, I read the news. There was this hotel which complained. They said, "We placed Bibles in all our hotel rooms. 70 hotel rooms. Not a single Bible was lost." And then they proceeded, "The following day, we placed a dictionary in all the rooms. 60 dictionaries were lost, and brought home by the guests." Sometimes, we bring home more, the word of man, than the Word of God. Sometimes, we consult more the words of this world, rather than the Word of God. That's very ironic. Ang Bible, walang nagtiyagang nag-uwi. Pero siguro maglagay ka ng pocketbook do'n, may mag-uuwi. 

It is also good to examine ourselves. How are we really in love with the Word of God? And what is the power of the Word of God? If you will sum up the words of Jesus today, we could sum it up in one word - the message of the Lord today in this mass. And that is the word 'TODAY'.

When Jesus read the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberate captives, and recover sight to the blind." And then He closed the scroll, and Jesus delivered His homily. And He said, "Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled, in your healing." The secret of Jesus is 'TODAY'.

What does that mean, brothers and sisters? Before we could likewise discover and relish the fulfillment that Jesus discovered, we must understand two things about 'today'.

Number one, today is not yesterday. Please remember that. Today is not yesterday. You might say, "Obvious ba, Father. Alam na namin 'yan. Today is not yesterday." But if you will really look at it, many people are living today, as if it is yesterday. Maraming tao ang nabubuhay sa kahapon. Kasi, 'yong sugat ng kahapon, sariwang sariwa pa rin hanggang ngayon. 'Yong atraso ng kahapon, buhay na buhay pa rin hanggang ngayon. 

I was struck during the New Year, I have a friend on Facebook, and on his status update, sabi niya, "If you still look at me as an immature and reckless kid, don't talk to me. Because that kid was a kid of last year. I am different today."

That's something because sometimes also, when we deal with people, we deal with them, as if they were still there yesterday. Siguro nga, siya 'yong taong maraming atraso noon. Pero 'yon 'yong noon, hindi ngayon. Even ourselves. That is sometimes how we treat ourselves. Perhaps, we committed so many mistakes in the past, and today, we have no hope whatsoever, because we consider ourselves a failure.

Today, the Lord is telling us, "Today is not yesterday. Today is different from yesterday." Yes, that kept Jesus going, because He always lived the present moment. If right now, you're still living like 2012, matatapos na po ang January, pero para pa ring 2012...Baka ang iba sa inyo, 1970 pa ang asal. Kasi, you're still living yesterday. Perhaps, the Lord has a special message for you. 

The other week, I visited an old priest. He met an accident as he was riding a bike. So when we visited him, we told him, "Monsee, ingat ingat na po." And then another priest teased him and said, "Monsee, tandaan n'yo, hindi na kayo bata katulad nang dati. May senior citizen na ho kayo, kaya huwag na ho kayong gumagawa ng mga stunts." 

When I heard that, and I was reflecting on today's Gospel, it is also very similar. Today is not yesterday. 'Yong iba sa atin, nabubuhay pa rin na akala mo parang ikaw pa rin 'yong kabataan noong unang panahon. Tapos magtataka ka, bakit hindi mo na nagagawa 'yong nagagawa mo noon? It is simply because today is different from yesterday. Live the present moment, and you'll be more mature, more understanding, more open. 

The second point I want to share is this. Tomorrow begins today. Yes, there are people who are slaves of yesterday, but there are also people imprisoned by the future. People who are fond of looking at the future, but forgetting what is today. Brothers and sisters, tomorrow, yes, is important. But tomorrow begins today. 

There are people whose only focus is tomorrow, and as a consequence, they forget today. They're so worried about what is to come, and they ignore what is before them. Just think of those who are obsessed with savings, with earnings, and they neglect the very treasures they already have. Their time, their family, their friends, their health. These people are very good in postponing and delaying. They have the disillusion that tomorrow will never end. "Yes, I will spend more time with the children, when I have enough money. I will share and help when I get rich. When I invite people to come to the church more often, I will do that once I retire. Once I get my position. Once I am already successful, I will serve." These are the people of tomorrow. They think tomorrow will never end. But please remember, tomorrow also may never come. Today begins the tomorrow that we envision. 

Dear brothers and sisters, these two graces, may we always remember. Today is not yesterday. Let us release the chains of the past. Tomorrow begins today. We need to start the future now. Let us not allow the past and the future to prevent us from what we need to do today. 

in the First Reading, Ezra proclaims, "Today is holy to the Lord. Today is precious to God." What you do today can very well make a very big difference in your life. What you do not do today, can change the course of your life. If you need to do something good, do it today. And so with Jesus, let us say, "Today, I am building the Kingdom of God. Today, I am starting the work of God. Today, I will hear the Word of God."

And so, as we continue with this mass, we pray. Dear Lord, heal us when we look at the past. Calm us when we look at the future. Strengthen and enlighten us, so that every day becomes a moment of salvation, a moment of grace, a moment of Your love, a moment of Your presence. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

January 26, 2013

Saturday – Year of Faith

Memorial of Saint Timothy  and Titus, Bishops

by Rev. Fr. Paul Marquez (St. Paul Church and Seminary, Bagtikan Street, Makati)

12;15PM Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

                         

Reading 1 2 Tm 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear child: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.

or Ti 1:1-5

Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life  that God, who does not lie, promised before time began, who indeed at the proper time revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our savior, to Titus, my true child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you.

Responsorial Psalm ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Gospel Mk 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

HOMILY

Ang atin pong selebrasyon ngayon ay karugtong ng kapistahan kahapon, 'yong conversion po ni St. Paul the Apostle, na ipinagdiwang natin kahapon. Si St. Paul po, alam naman natin, ay may humigit kulang na isang daang kasama sa kanyang ministry. At may mga kasama po siyang mga kababaihan. Katulad ng binanggit kanina sa First Reading, kilala niya ang nanay ni St. Timothy na si Eunice, at ang kanyang lola ni si Lois. Kilala sila ni St. Paul, hindi lamang basta sa mukha, kundi personal na may ugnayan siya sa kanila. 

At ang ginamit na paraan ni St. Paul ay very personal na pagsusulat. Sabi nga po natin ay huwag magbabasa ng sulat nang may sulat. Pero iba ho dito sa simbahan. Pinapakialaman natin ang sulat ni St. Paul, nakalagay pa sa Bible. (laughs) 'Yon ho ang nabuhay sa Bible, labing tatlong sulat, at ang sabi po ay kundi man si San Pablo ang may akda, 'yon ay ang kanyang mga disipulos. 

Natatandaan ko po sa seminaryo, noong ako'y highschool, palaging pag may dumarating na sulat mula sa bahay - wala pa kasi hong Facebook noon - sasabihin ng Father Master, "May sulat ka, pero di ko muna ibibigay, mamaya na." Sa hapag kainan, ilalagay pa 'yon ni Father, ipapatong niya, ipapakita sa akin ang sulat ng Tatay ko. Pero hindi pa rin niya ibibigay 'yon, pagkatapos pa ng kainan. Hindi ka pwedeng magdikta, "Ibigay n'yo na sa 'kin, Father. Dali." Maghintay kayo kung kailan ibibigay sa inyo. Iyon ay bahagi ng disiplina. Kasi nga, sabi din sa First Reading, kailangang magkaroon ng 'pagpipigil sa sarili'. Hindi 'yong kung ano ang gusto mo, kukunin mo na kaagad. Pagpipigil sa sarili ang isa sa itinuro ni St. Paul sa kanyang anak na si Timothy.

Sabi ni St. Paul, "Anak-anakan ko itong si Timothy." Dalawa ang sulat niya kay Timothy. Nakasama po ni St. Paul si Timothy sa kanyang journey sa Corinth at sa Thessalonica. Doon po siya nag-serve sa Lystra na malapit sa Turkey ngayon. At si St. Timothy po ay binato hanggang sa siya ay mamatay. Si St. Titus naman ay doon sa Crete sa Greece naglingkod, sa panahon ng simula ng 'formal Church organization'. Doon po nabuo ang idea na kinakailangang may bishop sa isang lugar upang pamunuan at alagaan ang mga nasasakupan. Iniwan siya ni St. Paul sa Crete. 

Si St. Timothy at si St. Titus po ay hindi mga apostles, ngunit sila ay mga disciples. Sabi po sa Gospel ngayon, bukod sa labindalawang apostoles ni Hesus, humirang pa siya ng 72 disciples at malamang na doon po sila kabilang. Meron hong bahagi sa Bible noong panahon ni Moses, mayroon ho siyang ipinagdasal, lumukob ang Holy Spirit, sa 70 disciples. Pero sa labas ho ng tent, meron din doong nilukuban ng Holy Spirit na dalawa. Hindi sila kasali sa grupo - si Eldad at si Meldad. Kaya nga ho 'yon ang hudyat na ang pagliligtas ng Diyos ay hindi lamang para sa isang grupo. Hindi lamang para sa nasa loob ng tent kundi pati 'yong nasa labas. Ano ho ang kahulugan nito? Na ang pagliligtas ng Diyos ay para sa lahat. Hindi pwedeng sabihin ng mga taga-Israel, "Kami lang ang maliligtas." 

Ano ho ang sabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga disciples? Huwag kayong magdadala ng lukbutan, kundi magtiwala kayo sa ibibigay ng Diyos, sa pamamagitan ng ibinibigay ng tao. Sabi Niya sa kanyang mga disipulo na huwag silang papalit-palit ng bahay, at kung ano ang ihain sa kanila, kainin nila. Kung ano ang ihain, matutong tumanggap. Huwag magde-demand. 

Ito ho ay napakahalagang paala-ala sa atin, ngayong taon ng pananampalataya, na tayong lahat ay isinasali ng Panginoong Hesus, bilang Kanyang mga alagad. We are His modern-day disciples. Isali na natin ang sarili natin sa 72 disciples. At sana, masabi rin sa atin na "sa tuwing naaala ko 'yang taong 'yan, I give thanks to God". Kagaya ng sinabi ni St. Paul kay Timothy na, "Alam mo anak, pag naalala kita, di maaaring hindi ako magpasalamat sa Diyos. I am drawn to prayer, kasi naalala ko 'yong maganda nating pinagsamahan. Naalala ko noong in-anoint kita to be a leader, at ibinigay sa iyo ng Panginoon ang spirit of discipline, spirit of courage, not the spirit of cowardice." Kasi ho batang-bata 'yong si Timothy tsaka si Titus. Mayroon hong tendency na 'yong mga nasasakupan nila ay memenos-menosin sila. Sasabihin sa kanila, 'Naku, mas magaling pa ako sa 'yo. Ikaw naman ay may gatas pa sa labi." Pero pinapalakas palagi ni St. Paul ang loob ni Timothy at Titus at ng kanyang mga disciples. Sinabi ni St. Paul sa kanila na kapag ang Espiritu na ang kumilos, you can marvel at what great lengths you can go, kasi hindi na ikaw 'yan, kundi ang Espiritu na ng Panginoon ang pumapatnubay sa atin.

Hilingin natin sa Panginoon na turuan Niya tayo, ipakita Niya sa atin kung papaano tayo maaaring maging tunay na mga tagasunod ng Panginoon. Tanggapin natin ang Holy Spirit sa ating buhay, nang sa gayon, kapag tayo'y titignan ng Panginoon, ang sasabihin Niya, "I cannot but give thanks." Amen.