Gospel Reflection

June 19, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

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

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

Reading 1 2 Cor 9:6-11

Brothers and sisters, consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:

He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.

The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1bc-2, 3-4, 9

R. (1b) Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

HOMILY

Meron po akong ikukuwento ako sa inyo. Meron daw pong isang babae na nag-book siya ng kanyang flight. Napa-aga po ang kanyang booking, kaya meron po siyang little time to spare. So habang naghihintay siya, she decided to buy a bag of cookies. And then umupo siya to wait for her flight, and took out her book, and began reading the book. And while she was reading the book, kumuha siya doon sa bag of cookies, then kumain siya. At noong kumain siya, napansin niya na 'yong katabi niya na lalaki, kumuha din ng cookies doon sa bag of cookies. Nakidampot. Kumain din. Deep inside her, she was telling herself, 'ang lakas naman ng loob ng lalaking ito'. And then pinabayaan na lang niya.
And then kumuha na naman siya ng cookie, at 'yong lalaki ay kumuha din ng another cookie. Sa madaling salita, every time she gets a cookie, the man will also get another cookie. Hanggang sa isang cookie na lang ang natira. So sabi niya, 'ano kaya ang gagawin ng lalaking ito, ano...isa na lang ang natirira'. And to her surprise, the man took the last cookie, smiled at her, broke it in half and asked her, "Gusto mo?" (laughs) So sabi niya, "Hindi, sa iyo na lang 'yan." And then tumayo na siya at tamang tama naman na tinawag na ang kanyang flight.
So on the plane, she took her seat. And then she opened her bag to take out her book, and to her surprise, nandoon ang bag of cookies na binili niya. (laughs and mixed reactions from the congregation) 'Yong kinakain pala niya, pag-aari no'ng mama. (loud laughs) Samantalang ang akala niya 'yong mama ang lakas ng loob, ang siba-siba, walang modo, kain nang kain, 'yon pala siya 'yong walang modo. (laughs) Siya pala 'yong kain nang kain nang hindi naman sa kanya.
Now, why did I tell you this story? Because look at this man. This man was willing to give and give and give. Kahit na hindi siya na-a-acknowledge ng babae. Kahit na akala ng babae ay sa kanya 'yong kinakain niya. The man was willing to give to the woman, without expecting anything in return.
I think this is God's message for us in today's Gospel. Jesus is telling us, when you give alms, when you pray, when you fast, or when you do good, do it for the sake of goodness. Only for goodness' sake. Do it, not because you want to be acknowledged. Do it, not because you are waiting to be repaid. Do it, not because you want to call attention to yourselves. When we do that, we are closest to the heart of God. When we do good without expecting something in return, we become closest to God. We become almost like God. Why? Because God is the ultimate giver. God is the ultimate giver who always gives and gives, without expecting anything in return.
In fact, if you are going to reflect about it, bakit ba tayo binibigyan ng Panginoon? It is not because He expects something back from us. Hindi naman Niya magagamit 'yong binibigay din natin sa Kanya eh. Hindi Niya kailangan 'yon. God needs nothing from us. Everything that God gives us, is simply from God, out of the generosity of His heart. I think ito 'yong gusto ni Hesus na maranasan natin.
You know, some spiritual masters will say that the best way to give is when you do not know the person that you are giving to, or the person you are giving to does not know that you are the one giving to him. 'Yon bang hindi alam ng nagbibigay kung kanino nanggaling ang kanilang tinanggap. Bakit? Because in that set-up, the ego is totally put aside. Minsan kasi pag kilala natin ang ating binigyan, di ba nando'n 'yong temptation na maghihintay tayo ng kapalit? O kaya naman pag kilala no'ng taong binibigyan natin na tayo ang nagbigay sa kanya, para bang nando'n din 'yong temptation for the person to give back what we have given to him. And so, the temptation of the ego, looking for its own reward, is always there.
In our Gospel for today, that is one of the graces that Jesus wants us to participate in. He wants us to participate in the utter joy of experiencing how it is to give, for goodness' sake. Not for the sake of the ego, not for the sake of any recompense, not for the sake of any reward that the person will give back to us.
As we line up later on and receive Holy Communion, let us remember that. Ang ibinigay natin sa Panginoon, tinapay at alak lang. Pero ang ibinibigay Niya sa atin ay ang Kanyang sariling Katawan at Dugo. He gives from the utter generosity of His heart. And so in this Holy Mass, we pray for that grace, that though it is difficult, let us try to give from goodness, and for goodness' sake. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

June 18, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

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

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

Reading 1 2 Cor 8:1-9

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, of the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For according to their means, I can testify, and beyond their means, spontaneously, they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones, and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God, so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun, he should also complete for you this gracious act also. Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also.

I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Responsorial Psalm PS 146:2, 5-6ab, 6c- 7, 8-9a

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, my soul!
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD, his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Mt 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

HOMILY

One of my most favorite anecdotes on the late President Abraham Lincoln was during the time of the Civil War. A mother from the Southern state begged for him to release his son, and with her pleadings, President Lincoln signed the decree to free the son who is a prisoner. One of President Lincoln's generals approached him and said, "You do not release an enemy; you destroy him." And President Lincoln answered, "If I made my enemy a friend, do not I destroy my enemy?"

As we have heard from our Gospel, it is not just a saying, but a commandment from our Lord, when He said, "Love your enemies."

Why is it so hard for us to love our enemies? First, we must identify who are those who we consider enemies. Are these the people who have betrayed us, the people who have embarrassed us? Are they the people who have taught us something which is good, but then because of our pride, we cannot accept it? Are these the people who continually offend us by their words, by their trying to destroy our reputation at our backs? We have to identify this.

But according to psychologists, the things that we hate in other people are actually the things that we hate in ourselves, because our hatred reflects or mirrors what we hate in ourselves. If we follow this kind of thinking, then the way we hate our enemies, is the way we love ourselves.

Jesus Christ said, "Love your enemies.....love your neighbor, as you love yourself." In our prayer, the Our Father, which we pray every day as we attend the Holy Mass, we say, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." What is the will of the Heavenly Father? It is for us to be one, to be united, to be loving each other. Are we not obeying His commandment, when we try to love our enemies?

Loving our enemies is loving beyond the boundaries that we have been used to. It is an invitation to love inclusively, and not exclusively. If we want to be true children of the Father, we will obey our Savior's command, and that is to love one another as God has loved us. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

June 17, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Prudencio 'Jun' T. Solomon, Jr., Parochial Vicar, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Sampaloc, Manila

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

Reading 1 2 Cor 6:1-10

Brothers and sisters: As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

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

R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
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. The Lord has made known his salvation.
In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

Gospel Mt 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

HOMILY

"An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Mata sa mata, ngipin sa ngipin.

Ito ay isa sa mga patakarang itinakda ng sinaunang sambayanang Hudyo upang maging gabay at maging batayan ng makakamit na hustisya sa kanilang lipunan. At ito ay itinakda sa pangunahing kadahilanan na dapat bantayan ang kilos o galaw o gawi ng mga tao. Na sa pagkamit ng hustisya, ang tao ay hindi lumalabis, hindi dapat sumosobra.

Pero sa kasamaang-palad, sa paglipas ng panahon, ito ay ginagamit bilang batayan ng paghihiganti. Mata sa mata, ngipin sa ngipin. At dito naging pangit ang tinatawag nating ebolusyon ng patakarang ito. Sapagkat ginagamit na siya bilang panukat ng paghihiganti.

Ito ang tinatanggal ni Hesus sa ating Ebanghelyo ngayon. Hindi na mata sa mata, hindi na ngipin sa ngipin. Ang ipinapalit ni Hesus ay ang ideya ng pagpaparaya. At ang pagpaparaya ay di nangangahulugan ng pagsuko, kundi ng pagpaparaya bunsod ng pagmamahal.

Kung sa kanilang unang patakaran, ang binibigyang-diin ay 'yong pagkakasala, ang binibigyang-diin ni Hesus sa Kanyang ipinalit na pagpaparaya bunsod ng pagmamahal, ay ang kahalagahan ng tao. Na sana, sa ginagawang kabutihan sa kanya, kahit na siya'y masama, ay matinag ang kanyang budhi at konsensiya. Na matinag ang kanyang kalooban, at makita niya ang kamalian na kanyang ginagawa.

Mga kapatid, ito ang ipinapalit ni Hesus - pagpaparaya bunsod ng pagmamahal. Binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga nagkamali na makita ang kanilang pagkukulang, na matinag ang kanilang konsensiya sa kanilang ginagawang masama.

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kaibigan, mahirap ang itinuturo ni Hesus, ngunit ito ay hindi imposible. Maaari natin itong gawin. Maaari nating antigin ang konsensiya ng iba, lalong lalo na 'yong mga nakasasakit sa atin, sa pamamagitan nang pagiging mabuti pa rin sa kanila. At ito ang panawagan ng Panginoon. Huwag na tayong maghiganti. Huwag na natin gawing sukatan ang sakit na ibibigay sa kanila, dahil sa ating tinamo sa kanila. Mga kapatid, bakit hindi natin pigilin ang kasamaan sa pamamagitan nang pagiging mabuti? Nang sa gayon, sa awa ng Diyos, ay makita nila at maramdaman 'yong kanilang dakilang pagkakamali, at sila ay magbago at magbalik-loob.

Sabi nga ng isa sa mga nakausap ko, kapag may mga taong sobrang suwail, kill them with your kindness. Ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon - pagpaparaya, bunsod ng pagmamahal.

Gospel Reflection

June 16, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Rufino "Jun" C. Sescon, Jr. - Chaplain, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel (Greenbelt Chapel), Makati
4;30PM Sunday Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, (Greenbelt Chapel) Makati

Reading 1 2 Sm 12:7-10, 13

Nathan said to David:  “Thus says the LORD God of Israel:  ‘I anointed you king of Israel. I rescued you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your lord’s house and your lord’s wives for your own. I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more. Why have you spurned the Lord and done evil in his sight? You have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you took his wife as your own, and him you killed with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11

R. (cf. 5c) Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Reading 2 Gal 2:16, 19-21

Brothers and sisters: We who know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Gospel Lk 7:36—8:3

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

HOMILY

Today, as we continue our observance of Sundays in ordinary time, in the secular sphere, we also observe a very special day. We observe Father's Day. And so before I begin my reflection, I invite all the fathers present to please stand up and be recognized by the community. Palakpakan natin ang ating mga Tatay. (loud applause from the congregation)

I don't know if I was also the one who celebrated the 4:30pm mass on Mother's Day, but just for the sake of sharing it, I said before that when it is Father's Day, almost all the restaurants are filled up, and there is really a sense of celebration. And I commented that - why is it that during Mother's Day, hindi ganoong kapuno ang mga restaurant? Sabi ko, bakit ganoon? Ibig sabihin ba no'n, mas loveable ang mga fathers, kasi mas may celebration?

And then I shared that a woman approached me after the mass and said, "I don't think so, Father, that the air is more celebratory during Father's Day, not because fathers are more loveable." And then she told me, "You know why Father? Why the restaurants are filled up, why there are many activities for Father's Day? Because the mothers are the ones organizing them. (laughs) That's why they are all filled up. Unlike Mother's Day, si Father ay di nag-o-organize daw, di nag-re-reservation, kaya parang mas masaya ang Father's Day kasi si Mommy ang nag-o-organize. Baka medyo totoo nga po iyon, ano. Kasi pag si Daddy, "Ay, Mother's Day ba?" Doon lang naalala on the day itself. Pero si Mommy, pinaghahandaan 'yan, I am sure. Kaya kayong mga Mommy - patunayan n'yong meron kayong hinandang surprise para kay Daddy.

And there is another point that I want to mention before I proceed to the reflection. You see, our Gospel is supposed to be in a longer form, but I decided to read the shorter form. Why? Because the longer form has given rise to a controversy in the Church. If you would read the Gospel of Luke in the longer form from Chapter 7 and proceed to Verses 36 to Chapter 8, the last part would mention Jesus with a group of women. And the last part would mention, 'that was the woman from whom several evil spirits were expelled, and she was named Mary Magdalene.'

But Mary Magdalene is different from the woman I just read in today's Gospel, who anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped the feet of Jesus with her hair. And normally, this woman, the one in the Gospel today, is considered a prostitute. That is why in the tradition of the church, we must admit, when biblical scholarship was not yet precise, they attributed this woman, the prostitute, to Mary Magdalene - which we now retract. I want to make it clear. The Church is retracting that. Because by scholarship investigation, and all the scholars agree, we found out that those are two different women. Kaya unfair naman po. To give justice to Mary Magdalene, she is not a prostitute. Kaya pasensiya na si Freddie Aguilar sa kanta niyang 'Magdalena', sapagkat hindi ho siya gano'n. Of course, we cannot blame them, because at that time, there was not enough scientific investigation to compare the findings. But the basis of that wrong notion is the longer form of the Gospel. Kaya para hindi po malito ang mga tao, sabi ko, babasahin ko na lang ang short form para hindi nila ma-associate si Mary Magdalene do'n sa babaeng humalik sa paa ni Hesus.

I will now proceed to the reflection.....Akala ninyo tapos na po 'yong Homily, ano? Introduction pa lang ho 'yon. (laughs)

You know, when several people gather, whether it be in the family, a class, in an office, there are several personalities. That's obvious. And they make life colorful. Kasi pag pare-pareho naman tayo ng personality, boring naman 'yon. For example, in the family or in the class, there is the singer. There is also the joker. I remember the seven dwarves of Snow White. There is the Grumpy one - 'yong laging nakasimangot. Meron diyan 'yong laging naka-smile. Meron din namang serious palagi.

In our class, we also have different personalities. There is a walking encyclopedia - the nerdy type, who would know everything. But there is this classmate of ours who is our favorite. Why? Because he is the most generous one. Siya ang paborito naming lahat, lalo na pag lalabas kami, siya ang gusto naming kasama. Kasi pag kami ay mamamasahe sa bus, sa taxi, pag kakain sa labas, pag manonood kami ng sine, siya ang unang-unang bumubunot, kaya siya ang gusto naming kasama palagi. Meron namang ayaw mong kasama kasi alam mo pag kakain na, doon magsi-CR. Pag tatawagin na ninyo 'yong waiter, sasabihin, "Ay lalabas lang ako saglit." Kasi alam nilang magsisingilan na, ano. Tapos pagbalik sasabihin, "O, bakit naman nagsibayad na kayo, magbibigay pa naman sana ako." O 'yong iba naman ay deadma pag magbabayaran na. But this classmate of ours is very generous, and we like him for that. Never was there an occasion when he did not pay for us, at magagalit siya pag hindi siya ang nagbayad. Kundi ka ba naman matuwa sa gano'ng kaibigan ano. Siya, ang gusto niya, siya ang nagbabayad. But if you would look it at it, that classmate of ours is really not that rich. He's not really that moneyed, but he is that generous. And so I ask myself - how can he be like that? How can he be so generous? Galante, sabi nga natin.  

Of course, not all people can give. There are people who are willing to give. It is just that they do not have enough. And I perfectly understand. There are many sincere people who say, "Father, kung may pera lang ho talaga ako...." Alam mong sincere sila, pag sinabi nila 'yon. It's just that they do not have. They could not give. They are inadequate. Gustuhin man nila, hanggang do'n lang ang nakakayanan nila.

But on the other hand, we must admit that there are people who have, who can afford, who possess so much, but they still do not give. And I told you that that very generous classmate of mine is not really the richest in the batch. There are several who are more prosperous than him. Pero 'yong mga mas mayayaman, parang sila 'yong nagtatago pa. Sila 'yong hindi kumikibo pag singilan na. Sila 'yong kunwari bubunot, pero di matanggal-tanggal 'yong wallet sa bulsa nila. Kunwari lang bubunot, pero hindi naman matanggal-tanggal. Palabas lang.

How come? They cannot still share because deep in their heart, they do not believe they have enough. They still do not believe they are rich. Why don't they give despite of their affluence? They are not yet convinced that they are secure and stable. For them, every centavo, every drop, every crumb, every piece matters. Because if they are convinced that they have more than enough, they will not hesitate to give something away. They cannot afford to be lavish, because they are afraid that they will still lose something. Now, I understand. They do not give, because in their minds and hearts, they still do not have much.

Kaya siguro 'yong iba sa inyo, nagtataka. Bakit milyonaryo na siya, hindi pa siya makapagbigay. Kung ako lang ang milyonaryo, kung ako lang ang may perang gano'n, gagawin ko 'yon. Because perhaps some of them are not convinced that those millions are enough. That's why they want the billions, not the millions. They want the thousands, not the hundreds. Enough is not in the vocabulary of a greedy person. The world is not even enough, when there's greed.

Dear friends, in today's Gospel, Jesus praised the gestures of a simple woman. She washed His feet with her tears. She anointed His head with precious oil. She was able to love Jesus so lavishly. Why? Because Jesus says, she has received much love. She has been forgiven. Her debt to God has been cancelled, that is why she is overflowing with gratitude. That was the case of the simple woman. She is generous, because she believes she has received much. Because you cannot give what you do not have.

On the other hand, Simon the Pharisee was the opposite. He was the so-called righteous and upright man. He was supposed to be filled with God; he should have been overflowing with holiness, obedience and compassion. But how come Simon, the host, saw the woman with contempt? How come he scorned her in front of Jesus? Why did he did not even take care of Jesus, since he was actually the host? He was not even courteous enough to Jesus as a guest. Why was Simon not generous, unlike the woman?

Simon was not gracious, because actually, there was no grace in his heart. There is nothing to give. You cannot give what you do not have. There is scarcity of love in his heart. There is little forgiveness and compassion in him. Since there is little forgiveness, there is little love. I agree. Simon could not give love, because there is little forgiveness in his heart. Unlike the woman, she gave so much love, because there is so much forgiveness in her heart.

But why is there little forgiveness in Simon's heart? Bakit po kokonti lang ang kapatawaran sa puso ni Simon? There is little love, there is little forgiveness, not because he is sinless, not because nobody wants to forgive him. There is little forgiveness because there is little repentance, little contrition, little humility. He did not see anything wrong with his life. Hindi siya humihingi ng tawad sa Diyos. Kaya katiting ang kapatawaran niya. At bakit hindi siya humihingi ng tawad sa Diyos? Una, akala niya, wala siyang mali. Ikalawa, ayaw niyang aminin ang kanyang mali. At 'yon ang pagkakaiba niya do'n sa babae na nag-uumapaw ang pag-ibig, nag-uumapaw ang kapatawaran. 'Yong babae, inamin niya ang kanyang pagkakamali. Ikalawa, nagsisi siya kay Hesus. And because of that, she was overflowing with love.

Brothers and sisters, in this mass, we ask the Lord for that grace. That there is honesty, humility and repentance in our hearts. A repentant person is a loving person. A person who knows how to humbly acknowledge his or her sins, will receive God's forgiveness. And since one rightfully receives forgiveness, he can now celebrate and share mercy and forgiveness in the world.

Masdan po ninyo mga kapatid. Ang hindi sanay magsisi, hindi sanay magpatawad. At ang taong marunong magsisi, marunong magpatawad, sapagkat alam niya, ramdan niya, kung papa'nong ikaw naman ay humihingi ng tawad.

Let us ask ourselves - is it easy or hard for us to forgive? Is it easy for us to share mercy? Baka ho kaya hirap tayong magpatawad, hirap tayong magbahagi ng awa, ay dahil wala tayong natatanggap na awa at kapatawaran sa Diyos. At baka kaya wala tayong kapatawaran o wala tayong natatanggap na awa, eh kasi hindi tayo humihingi ng tawad sa Diyos. The woman - she did not miss that opportunity when Jesus came, because she was humble and honest enough. We ask the Lord that this grace may be in our hearts, so that we may be generous and gracious.  

And it is very nice that the scenes of Jesus will always be in meals, in tables. The Gospel was in the context of a table fellowship. Kumakain sila. Doesn't it sound and look familiar? We are here on the table of the Lord. Let us not imitate Simon who missed that opportunity, who did not see anything wrong with him. Rather, let us imitate that woman, who, at the table of the Lord, realized what was wrong with her, what was weak in her, and consequently, discovered, what was strong and gracious in the Lord.

Kaya pala ang first part ng misa natin, pagharap natin sa table ni Lord, ano po ang sinasabi ng pari? "As we prepare to celebrate this sacred mystery, let us acknowledge our sins, and beg the Lord's mercy." Because when we acknowledge our sins, we will receive much, and we will share much. Amen.