Gospel Reflection

March 08, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

by Rev.  Fr. Nilo Mangussad (Rector Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish)

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

                         

Reading 1 Hos 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD: Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Take with you words, and return to the LORD; Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; We shall say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion.”

I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree”–  Because of me you bear fruit! Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17

R. (see 11 and 9a) I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
“I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Gospel Mk 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

HOMILY

The first commandment, the highest of all commandments, is to love God first, and the second is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. But to love God and neighbor is not simply lip service. It is not just a manner of fulfilling our obligations, just like our Sunday or daily masses. The love of God must be shown concretely in our lives. 

It is very easy to see Jesus in others, when others are good to us. What if others malign us, hurt us, call us names, ignore us? It is so difficult to see Jesus in these people. 

My brothers and sisters, the love of God can be felt, not only because we do good to our friends or even to strangers. Even if we are hurt by other people, the presence of Jesus is also there, waiting to be revealed. It is up to us to understand, to forgive, and to see how we can bring out Jesus in these people. It is because loving God is not excluding our enemies, but rather, understanding them and getting Jesus inside their hearts.  

The only question we should ask is this. Will I be able to see Jesus in those who hurt me, in spite of how I feel? Or am I going to close my eyes and only see Jesus in those who are good to me, because I don't want to see those who have hurt me? 

Gospel Reflection

March 07, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

Memorial of Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity

by Msgr. Bong Lo (Chaplain, Chapel of Eucharistic Lord)

6:00PM Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

                         

Reading 1 Jer 7:23-28

Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.

But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me. From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day, I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets. Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers. When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you. Say to them: This is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.

Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Gospel Lk 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

HOMILY

Some time ago, I have a friend that really caused me irritation. Kasi po, when we were talking to each other, halos after each sentence na sinasabi ko, kaagad siyang magsasabi ng, "What did you say? Pardon me? Paki-ulit nga." At first, nagpasensiya ako. I had to repeat myself over and over again. But at one point, talagang nairita na ako, so I asked her, "Nakikinig ka ba talaga? May iniisip ka bang iba? May problema ka ba?" 

It turned out na may problema pala talaga siya. She has a hearing problem. Mahirap po talagang makipag-usap sa tao, kung ikaw ay may hearing problem. But my friend really tried to listen. And if she could not hear clearly or could not understand a word, she would ask, "Paki-ulit nga." She was interested to hear what I am saying. She was interested to understand what it is that I am trying to communicate. Kahit na may hearing problem siya, she was really open and interested. 

This is precisely the message of God in our readings today. In the First Reading, we heard from the book of the prophet Jeremiah that Jesus was telling his people in Israel, "Listen to My voice...But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed...I have sent you untiringly all my servants, the prophets. Yet they have not obeyed Me nor paid heed. They have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers." So paulit-ulit na pinadala ni Hesus ang Kanyang mga mensahero, upang ipahayag ang Kanyang kalooban, ang Kanyang plano. Pero ano ang nangyari? "Faithfulness has disappeared. The word itself is banished from their speech." 

My sisters and brothers, in the Gospel Reading, Jesus is able to exorcise demons, to expel the evil spirit, to cure the sick and those possessed by the power of darkness. And yet, many of His contemporaries could not accept the power of God and the grace of God that Jesus was bringing. They could not deny that something good is happening, and yet they could not accept that Jesus is an authentic messenger from the Father. And so they accused Him of using the power of evil, to expel evil. That is why Jesus taught they were illogical. Kung ibang tao ang nag-exorcise, kung ibang tao ang nag-expel ng demons, tanggap nyo, pero kung Ako, hindi. That is why Jesus told them, "If you are not with Me, you're against Me....and whoever does not gather with Me, scatters."

My sisters and brothers, marami po sa atin ang nagbibingi-bingihan. Marami po sa atin ang nagbubulag-bulagan. Marami po sa atin ang nagde-deadma-deadmahan. Pero sana, pagdating sa Panginoon, pagdating sa pangangailangan ng kapwa, huwag tayong magbingi-bingihan, huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan, huwag tayong magdeadma-deadmahan. That is why in the Responsorial Psalm, we say, "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Ultimately, it's not a question of the eyes. It's not a question of the ears. It is a question of the heart. 

May dalawa akong kaibigan. Parehong matalino, parehong successful sa buhay. Kaya lang parehong strong ang kanilang personalities. Sad to say, nagkaroon ng lamat ang kanilang relationship. Nagkaroon ng hurts sa isa't isa. The other day, pinakita sa akin noong isa 'yong exchange of e-mail nilang dalawa. "Father, simple lang naman 'yong sinasabi ko. Napakalinaw naman ng sinasabi ko. Bakit hindi niya masakyan? Bakit hindi niya makuha ang punto ko? Why does she keep on misunderstanding my points?" Matalino naman silang dalawa. Pero dahil may hurts, hindi makita ang punto. 

Whereas kung ok ang relationship, kahit na nandoon siya sa isang corner, nandoon ka sa kabilang corner, puno ang lugar ng tao at maingay, nagtinginan lang kayo, nagkindatan, nagkaintindihan na. Bakit? Dahil ang puso ay bukas sa isa't isa. 

My sisters and brothers, let us pray that if today we hear God's voice, we harden not our hearts. That we may harden not our hearts to Him, and to our neighbors. Kung minsan talagang may biases tayo, may mga prejudices tayo. Let us pray that as we grow older, lalong lumawak ang ating pang-unawa. That more and more, we overcome our biases and our prejudices. That we may have an open mind and open heart to God and to our neighbor. 

Sometimes, God wants us to be biased. Biased in favor of Him. Biased in favor of those who are in need - the lost, the last, and the least. God sometimes wants us to be prejudiced. Prejudiced in favor of God. Prejudiced in favor of the needy, with preferential option for the sick and the poor. Let us pray that we shall not scatter, but that we shall gather in Jesus. 

Gospel Reflection

March 06, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

by Rev.  Fr. Nilo Mangussad (Rector Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish)

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

                         

Reading 1 Dt 4:1, 5-9

Moses spoke to the people and said: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land  which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20

R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Gospel Mt 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

HOMILY

Jesus came, not to abolish, but to fulfill the law. It is because Jesus was so surprised and frustrated with what He has seen in the Scribes and the Pharisees. They were simply complying externally. They were just doing things, but were not putting to heart what the law was about.

Laws are there to help us have a wonderful relationship with God. It is through the meaningful observance of church laws that makes our relationship with God deeper and more useful for our salvation. If we are just going to obey rules and regulations, without putting their meaning to heart, it is just like putting on powder, or using soap, or going to a dermatologist, to whiten our skin. It is all superficial, and not deep enough to change our attitude.

The laws of the church are there to help us, guide us, and deepen our spirituality in terms of our relationship with God. The question we must ask is: I come to church every day. But is my coming to church just a habit? Or is it because of my deep desire to nourish my faith in God?

Gospel Reflection

March 05, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

by Rev. Fr. Juancho "Choy" Ramos (Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Parish of Sta. Cruz, Manila)

5:30PM Mass, Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Peace (EDSA Shrine)

                         

Reading 1 Dn 3:25, 34-43

Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:

“For your name’s sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Gospel Mt 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

HOMILY

Forgiveness is a work of compassion, and it is a gift from God. It is not the work of every human being to forgive. It is the work of God present within us. 

When God created us, He created us according to His own image and likeness. Therefore, His spirit is within us. In the letter of Paul, he testified that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that moves us. When we received the Sacrament of Baptism, and the minister said, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit", we were gifted with God's Spirit. Therefore, if we are going to look at the perspective of our own faith, forgiveness is truly the work of God truly present in us. 

To forgive is to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. If we do not forgive, then we are allowing the work of the evil spirit. When we forgive, the fruit is peace, harmony, love and a good relationship. But if we do not forgive, the fruit is definitely anger, hate, conflict and misunderstanding. 

That is why the Lord is telling us in our Gospel to forgive, not only seven times, but seventy-seven times. This means that forgiveness should be unending. If we adopt that, we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. 

For this Lenten season, let us pray that we may continue to strive to deepen our own faith relationship with God. Let us allow the work of the Holy Spirit to make us fully alive, that we may continue to forgive our brothers and sisters. Often, we experience hurts and pains because of our unforgiving heart. Let us, therefore, make an effort to let the Holy Spirit work in us, so that as we live the life of a Christian, we can be truly connected to the source of our own being, and that is our God. 

Let us take time to make a silent prayer and think of those people whom we find hard to forgive, and those who we need to ask for forgiveness. Let us make the work of Jesus truly alive within us, so that we can sincerely tell our brother or sister, "I am sorry for the many times that I failed you, and for the many times that I hurt you." 

We can also do it to ourselves. Oftentimes, the best enemy we have is our own self. Kung minsan, nahihirapan nating matanggap ang pagkukulang ng iba, at pati ang ating pagkukulang, dahil mataas ang ating pagtingin sa ating sarili. Sana, sa pagkakataong ito, matanggap natin ang ating kahinaan, at hayaan nating ang biyaya ng Panginoon ang magbigay sa atin ng lakas upang tayo ay matutong magpatawad.