Gospel Reflection

August 02, 2013

First Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Fr. Dominador “Domie” G. Guzman Jr. (Society of Saint Paul)

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

Reading 1 Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37

The LORD said to Moses, “These are the festivals of the LORD which you shall celebrate at their proper time with a sacred assembly. The Passover of the LORD falls on the fourteenth day of the first month, at the evening twilight. The fifteenth day of this month is the LORD’s feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first of these days you shall hold a sacred assembly and do no sort of work. On each of the seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD. Then on the seventh day you shall again hold a sacred assembly and do no sort of work.”

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the children of Israel and tell them: When you come into the land which I am giving you,
and reap your harvest, you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest, who shall wave the sheaf before the LORD that it may be acceptable for you. On the day after the sabbath the priest shall do this.

“Beginning with the day after the sabbath, the day on which you bring the wave-offering sheaf, you shall count seven full weeks, and then on the day after the seventh week, the fiftieth day, you shall present the new cereal offering to the LORD.

“The tenth of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement, when you shall hold a sacred assembly and mortify yourselves and offer an oblation to the LORD.

“The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the LORD’s feast of Booths, which shall continue for seven days. On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly, and you shall do no sort of work. For seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD, and on the eighth day you shall again hold a sacred assembly and offer an oblation to the LORD. On that solemn closing you shall do no sort of work.

“These, therefore, are the festivals of the LORD on which you shall proclaim a sacred assembly, and offer as an oblation to the LORD burnt offerings and cereal offerings, sacrifices and libations, as prescribed for each day.”

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab

R. (2a) Sing with joy to God our help.
Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,
the pleasant harp and the lyre.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our solemn feast.
R. Sing with joy to God our help.
For it is a statute in Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob,
Who made it a decree for Joseph
when he came forth from the land of Egypt.
R. Sing with joy to God our help.
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. Sing with joy to God our help.

 

Gospel Mt 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

HOMILY

Agosto na, ano. Pagkatapos nito ay 'ber-ber-ber' na tayo. 

Anyway, habang binabasa po kanina 'yong First Reading, pinagmamasdan ko 'yong mga mukha ninyo. Alam n'yo, ang isa sa mga konsolasyon ng isang pari habang nagmimisa para hindi antukin, eh tinitignan namin 'yong mga mukha ninyo. (laughs) Iba-ibang mga mukha. May mga naghihikab, (laughs) may mga kukuti-kutitap na 'yong mga mata. Naisip ko tuloy kanina habang binabasa 'yong First Reading, naintindihan kaya ng mga taong ito 'yong ine-emote na basahin no'ng ating reader? Pero hindi ko ho kayo masisisi kapag 'yong First Reading kanina ay hindi n'yo masyadong ma-gets. (laughs) Kasi, sa totoo lang, ano ba 'yong mga pinagsasabing binibilang na mga araw doon?

Alam n'yo po, we are familiar, sa loob ng simbahan, na sa ating selebrasyon, mayroon tayong sinusunod na tinatawag natin na Liturgical Calendar. Kaya bago pumasok sa misa, tinatanong ng mga lay minister ang pari, "Ano hong kulay ang isusuot natin?" Kasi ngayon, pwedeng green, pwedeng puti. Sabi ko, magputi na lang tayo, kasi kapistahan ni Peter Julian Eymard at First Friday, so magputi na lang tayo. At may sinusunod ding mga readings 'yan. At alam po natin na ang liturgical season ay may sacred seasons. Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, at syempre 'yong pinakamahaba ay 'yong Ordinary Time. 

'Yon pong mga Hudyo, sapagkat mayroon din silang covenant with God - at 'yong mga nagsimba kahapon, kung narinig ninyo 'yong First Reading - nagpatayo rin ang Diyos ng temple, ng dwelling place, kasama ang mga Hudyo. Meron din silang sinusundan po na calendar of festivities. Ang binasa po natin kanina sa First Reading ay ang lista ng apat na mahalagang kapistahan na kung saan ang mga Hudyo, saan man sila nanggagaling, ay kailangang umakyat ng templo ng Herusalem, four times a year.

'Yong unang kapistahan ay Passover. 'Yon ang paggunita nila taun-taon sa paglaya na ginawa ng mga Israelita mula sa 400 years of slavery from Egypt. Para sa kanila, 'yon ang simula ng kanilang covenant sa Panginoon. Kaya napakahalagang araw. Ang ikalawang kapistahan ay 'yong tinatawag po na Feast of the First Fruits - 50 days after Passover. 'Yon po ang original na kapistahan ng Pentecost, na kung saan ginugunita ng mga Israelita ang pagbibigay ng Sampung Utos ng Diyos, na naging pundasyon nilang mga batas at ng kanilang covenant. 'Yong pangatlo ay 'yong Day of Atonement. 'Yong mga Muslim may Ramadan - kaya nga sa August 9, holiday na naman sapagkat pagtatapos ng Ramadan. 'Yon palang Ramadan ay patterned after the 'Yom Kippur' ng mga Israelita, na kung saan once a year ay nag-aalay sila ng kanilang pagsisisi sa Panginoon sa lahat ng kanilang mga kasalanan. And then, the last festival mentioned is the Feast of the Tabernacles, kung saan po sa loob ng isang linggo, inaalisan ng mga Israelita ang kanilang mga bahay upang tumira sa mga tolda - mga kubol - para sa gano'n ay magunita nila ang 40 years ng kanila pong mahabang paglalakbay sa disiyerto bago marating ang Lupang Pangako. 'Yon 'yong magandang kuwento ng ating First Reading. 

'Yong Gospel reading naman natin, matapos ang maraming mga istorya ng mga parables, nakaka-frustrate kasi sabi dito, 'yong mga tao ay hindi makapaniwala kay Hesus sa Kanyang mga parables na punong-puno ng wisdom. Bakit? Kasi sabi nila, anak lang 'yan ng karpintero, eh. Kilala naman natin kung sino Siya, kung sino ang Kanyang pamilya. And the Gospel says Jesus was not able to do mighty works because of their lack of faith. 

Brothers and sisters, kapag pinagsama natin itong dalawang kuwentong ito - ang First Reading at ang Ebanghelyo - I think, ang nabubuong mensahe sa atin ng Word of God ngayong First Friday of August na ito, ay ang Diyos ay nangangailangan ng space. God is all powerful; totoo 'yon. God is all knowing; tama po 'yon. Subalit upang ang Diyos ay kumilos sa buhay natin, we need to give God a space. 'Yan ang hiningi ng Diyos sa Unang Pagbasa, na matapos ang mga Israelitang pumasok sa lupang pangako, huwag nilang kakalimutan ang Diyos, at dahil diyan, at least, apat na beses sa isang taon, iiwan nila ang kanilang mga trabaho. They will make a pilgrimage four times a year to Jerusalem, to remember the Lord. To give time to the Lord, to remember the mighty works of God. 

Gayon din naman sa ating Gospel. Bakit si Hesus hindi makagawa ng miracle? Walang space. The minds and hearts of the people are filled with their bias to Jesus. Kaya anumang kwento ang gawin ni Lord, anumang paliwanag ang gawin Niya sa parables, there is no space in the hearts and minds of the people. And God cannot do anything. 

Siguro 'yon din ang tanong ng Panginoon sa atin ngayon. May space ba si Lord sa buhay natin? May space ba siya sa time natin? Tayo ay isang sibilisasyon na napaka-conscious sa oras, ano? Masyado tayong tight sa oras. Bawat minuto, kailangang may ginagawa. Sayang ang oras. Pero isipin mo, kung nagkasakit ka, hindi mo pwedeng sabihing sayang ang oras, magtatrabaho ako. May sakit ka, eh....ha? Is there a space for God, not only in our time, but in our minds, and in our hearts? Sa ating pag-iisip, sa atin pong mga damdamin? O tulad ba tayo ng mga taong taga-Nazareth na wala - sarado na ang utak, sarado na ang isipan, ang damdamin sa Panginoon? A space for God.....

Kaya napakahalaga ho para sa ating mga tao na unang-una, may prayer time tayo. May retreat, di ba? Gustong gusto ko 'yong paliwanag ng aking propesor noon sa Loyola. What is prayer? Ang sabi po ni Thomas Green, ang aking propesor, "Prayer is opening to God." When you pray, you open to God. 

Pagkatapos ng ating First Friday noong nakalipas na buwan, sapagkat wala din si Father Joey noon, kinailangan ko pong tumakbo sa Puerto Princesa. Doon ako for one week sa Puerto Princesa. Nag-retreat ako at nagbigay ako ng talk sa 41 priests from the Diocese of Pagadian in Mindanao. Gustong-gusto kong makasama 'yong mga pari sa Mindanao - mga koboy. Iba 'yong mga pari sa Maynila eh, puro mga naka-Barong palagi. (laughs) Naka-Barong, naka-clean cut palagi...mga spoiled. (laughs) Eh sa Mindanao, hindi eh. Dalawa 'yong paring kasama ko, naka-tirintas 'yong mahabang buhok (surprised, amused reaction from the people), balbasarado ha. Nagko-conference kami, 'yong suot nila, 'yong shorts, ah....Koboy sila. But you know, I like it very well when I go on retreat with these priests from Mindanao, because I am also reminded about my own priesthood. Na kailangan ang pagpapari ay...nakasadsad sa lupa ang iyong mga paa. 

At itong mga pari sa Mindanao, ang daming mga kwento. How their lives are really challenging and real. 'Yong isang pari, nagkukwento kung papaanong namalegke siya. Hindi 'yong boy, kundi siya 'yong namalengke. At 'yong palengke, mga Muslim 'yong nandodoon. Eh kinursunada siya. Habang namamalengke siya't namimili ng mga isda, may bilyar sa likod niya. 'Yong may hawak ng taco o pool stick, ini-atras ang taco nang dire-direcho. Sapul ang likuran ng pari. Ano'ng pari pari....Mga Muslim....Mangiyak-ngiyak daw siya sa sakit pero sabi niya, 'Tiniis ko na lang. Hindi ako lumingon, sapagkat alam kong pag lumingon ako, may mangyayari." 

Sometimes, hearing people, fellow priests talk like this, fellow priests in a retreat, is a time with God. It is a time when God is reminding you, "Hoy...priesthood is a gift to you. Hindi sa iyo 'yan. Huwag mong angkinin, pahiram ko lang. Magpakatino ka. Magpaka-baba ka." 

We need prayers to have space for God. Minsan, not only prayers. We need delays....delays to have space for God. Alam n'yo minsan, ayaw na ayaw natin 'yong nade-delay. Tingin tayo nang tingin sa orasan. Delay...delay, delay. But you know, brothers and sisters, many times, God uses a delay to make a space for Himself. Kasi kung minsan, pag hindi tayo nade-delay, wala na tayong panahon para sa sarili at para sa Diyos. 

Isa po sa mga trabaho ko bilang pari ay magsulat sa St. Paul. Eh kung minsan dine-deadline na ako. "Father Domie, deadline na bukas." Naisip ko, gusto kong isulat 'yong article, 'yong reflection a month before, pero hindi ako makapagsulat. Delay...delay. Pagdating ng gabi, sabi ko, 'Lord, bukas na ang submission nito, kundi mahuhuli ang Sambuhay'. You'll be suprised. May mga bagay na hindi mo naisip noon, pero at the last moment, doon mo maiisip. 'Wow, maganda pala itong point of reflection na ito'. At 'yon finally ang isusulat mo. In 30 minutes, tapos, ano? Ganyan si Lord. Kaya huwag kayong magagalit kung nade-delay-delay kayo minsan. It can be God's way of giving a space for Himself in our lives. 

We need prayer, we need delays, and sometimes, we need sickness....Some people need to be sick to have a space for God, di ba? Sa totoo lang, 'yong iba, kundi maysakit, hindi hihinto, eh. Di ba? O...kung hindi magkasakit, hindi magdadahan-dahan. Tuloy-tuloy lang. Pati sarili, pati pamilya, napapabayaan. Sobrang sipag. Kaya kung minsan, siguro sabi ni Lord, "Oy...bed rest ka muna. Bed rest. At habang nagbe-bed rest ka, kakausapin Kita." 

Kaya, brothers and sisters, I think this is the point that the Lord would wish to tell us sa ating Word of God ngayon. Huwag kayong magtatampo kapag every now and then, God applies the brakes in your life. God needs your time. God needs a space in your mind. God needs a space in your heart. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

August 01, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguouri, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

by Rev. Fr. Benjamin “Benjo” Fajota - Vice Rector, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine) 5:30PM Mass at EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 Ex 40:16-21, 34-38

Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him. On the first day of the first month of the second year the Dwelling was erected. It was Moses who erected the Dwelling. He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars, and set up its columns. He spread the tent over the Dwelling and put the covering on top of the tent, as the LORD had commanded him. He took the commandments and put them in the ark; he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it. He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil, thus screening off the ark of the commandments, as the LORD had commanded him.

Then the cloud covered the meeting tent, and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling. Moses could not enter the meeting tent, because the cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling. Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling, the children of Israel would set out on their journey. But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward; only when it lifted did they go forward. In the daytime the cloud of the LORD was seen over the Dwelling; whereas at night, fire was seen in the cloud by the whole house of Israel in all the stages of their journey.

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11

R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

 

Gospel Mt 13:47-53

Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

HOMILY

During the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, he had a very staunch critic, by the name of Edward Stanton. This man not only abhorred and condemned all of Lincoln's policies. He also attacked Lincoln personally. He even nicknamed Lincoln 'the original gorilla'. At that time, there was an explorer who was wandering in Africa, searching for a gorilla. But Stanton chided him and said, "You have made your life so hard, when you can easily find one in Springfield, Missouri, the birthplace of Lincoln".

All throughout these years, Lincoln did not say anything against Stanton. In fact, he even made Stanton the Secretary of War or War Minister in his Cabinet, because he was the best person for the job. While Lincoln treated Stanton with utmost courtesy, Stanton treated Lincoln with much contempt.

On the night that Abraham Lincoln fell to an assassin's bullet, he was lying there lifeless, and Edward Stanton was standing there with tears in his eyes, and said, "Here lies the body of the greatest ruler man has ever seen in the whole world." In the end, my dear brothers and sisters, Lincoln's love for patience won.

And this is what the Gospel is telling us. It is not to scare us or to tell us that at the end of the world, there will be separation of the good and the bad. What God is telling us is He is very patient enough to wait for us, for us to be converted, to go back to Him, and be reconciled to Him. The words of the Gospel are not meant to scare us, to tell us that life is hopeless for the sinners. In fact, His words are giving us a message of hope, a message of peace, a message of love. If we take these words into our heart, then our lives would be better off as Christians. We will try to relate with each other as brothers and sisters, and will take into heart the message of the Gospel. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

July 31, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

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

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

Reading 1 Ex 34:29-35

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the LORD. When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were afraid to come near him. Only after Moses called to them did Aaron and all the rulers of the community come back to him. Moses then spoke to them. Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him, and he enjoined on them all that the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai. When he finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him, he removed the veil until he came out again. On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel all that had been commanded. Then the children of Israel would see that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant; so he would again put the veil over his face until he went in to converse with the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm PS 99:5, 6, 7, 9

R. (see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.

Gospel Mt 13:44-46

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

HOMILY

I think all of you know that the World Youth Day has just ended, and that it was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is already the 28th World Youth Day, which was a gathering of all the youth in the world, together with the Holy Father. And this is the first World Youth Day that was attended by Pope Francis. If you watched the coverage of the World Youth Day, especially at EWTN, you will notice that most of the reactions that people would have in the recent World Youth Day was how the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in his simplicity, was able to communicate the Gospel, not only to the youth of the world, but even to the non-Catholics who were present in that gathering.

At nakikita naman talaga natin 'yong kapayakan at ang pagiging simple ng ating Holy Father. From the beginning until the end, all the images of the Holy Father exude simplicity. Halimbawa noong siya ay papa-alis - ewan ko kung nakita ninyo, ano - umaakyat ang Holy Father, dala-dala niya ang sarili niyang bag. He was carrying his own bag while he was coming up the plane, with no assistant to carry it for him. And when he came down and was already touring the city of Rio de Janeiro, ang sasakyan niya yata ay parang Kia Pride lang yata iyon, eh. Mas magara pa ang sasakyan ng kanyang mga security. He insisted that he would only use a simple every day car, with no tint, so that people can see him. Ang mga security niya natatakot, sabi nila mahirap naman 'yan, ano, because he was the Holy Father. But he was saying that the reason why the youth of the world went there, is so that they can see him. So bakit daw siya magtatago, kung 'yon naman talaga ang ipinunta nila, ano. The simplicity of the Holy Father....

And in one of the addresses that he gave, especially the one when he spoke with the bishops and priests. He said one thing that I never forgot. He said, "The Church must be able to speak the grammar of simplicity." I would like us to reflect on that word - the grammar of simplicity. Ano'ng sinasabi niya doon? Dapat daw na maipahayag natin 'yong kapayakan at kasimplehan ng pananampalataya. Not too much on complicated words or theology, but we must be able to speak the grammar of simplicity. Even in the life of the Holy Father, we will see that he does not even have to speak. His body language alone, his actions alone, already speak the language of God. It is already proclaiming the grammar of simplicity.

In our First Reading, what did we hear from the book of Exodus? Moses was given the Ten Commandments. And Moses went up to Mount Sinai. We know that during this time, God was not yet known to the Israelites. Hindi pa nagsasalita ang Diyos noon. God was then considered to be unknown, from a distance, hindi nakakausap o hindi nakikilala. And yet, according to the Reading, when Moses went down to the mountain, what happened? His face was shining with the divinity of God. And according to the Reading, the people of Israel can see the presence of God in the very person of Moses. Again, the grammar of simplicity. He did not even have to speak; His very person already radiated the presence of God. The complicated God was made simple in his very life.

Alam ninyo, meron akong mga professor sa seminaryo. There are only two kinds of professors. Ano 'yong dalawang uri? There are professors who make the simple, complicated. (laughs) 'Yon 'yong pag nagsalita sila, hindi mo maintindihan. And there are professors who make the very complicated, very simple. Ganoon lang 'yong gustong sabihin sa atin ni Pope Francis. We must be able to speak the grammar of simplicity, even in our every day relationships with one another.

For example, in your homes. Do you speak the grammar of simplicity to your children? You do not have to speak about what the Bible is saying. For example, if the husband is faithful to his wife, and his children see this, you are already speaking the grammar of simplicity. What Jesus said about 'for this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them shall become one flesh', hindi mo na kailangang sabihin 'yon. Pag nakita 'yan ng mga bata sa iyo, mauunawaan na nila. If you are very honest at hindi ka nagsisinungaling, they do not have to read 'thou shall not bear false witness'. Sa buhay mo pa lang, mauunawaan na nila 'yon. When you forgive one another, your children do not have to read in the Bible, 'forgive 70 times 7 times'. In your life, mababasa na nila, mauunawaan na nila 'yon - the grammar of simplicity.

So, in simple words, what is the Pope telling us in the recent World Youth Day? Our life may be the only Bible that people may read, and therefore, we must speak the language of the Bible in our very lives, in our very action. 'Yon din 'yong sinasabi ng ating First Reading. When Moses, in his person, was able to radiate the grandeur of God.

Alam po ninyo, itong araw na ito ay mahalaga din para sa akin. This is my 17th anniversary in the priesthood. (loud applause) And because of that, magkakaroon tayo ng second collection mamaya. (laughs) Hindi, biro lamang po ano. In my 17 years of priesthood, 'yon lang din ang aking pangarap. I hope that I was able to speak the grammar of simplicity, making the complicated, simple. O baka naman I am making the simple, more complicated. Nakakahiya naman, ano. I pray to God that I am not that kind of a priest. I pray that even in my priesthood, I am able to speak the grammar of simplicity, and radiate in my person the mystery of the God that we are following.

We were 20 when we were ordained, and we are celebrating our 17th anniversary today. In this mass, I would like to ask for your prayers, that you continue to pray for our whole batch, that we may continue to be the language of God to the modern culture. Let us pray for this grace as we continue this Holy Eucharist. Amen.