Gospel Reflection

January 24, 2014

Friday – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

by Rev. Fr. Benjo Fajota, Vice Rector, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)
12:15 PM Mass at the EDSA Shrine

 

Reading 1 1 sm 24:3-21

Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags. When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.

David’s servants said to him, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp; do with him as you see fit.’” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle. Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s mantle. He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the LORD’s anointed.” With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed and a father to me.’ Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold. Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life. The LORD will judge between me and you, and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case. I shall not touch you.
The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ So I will take no action against you. Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea! The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you. May he see this, and take my part, and grant me justice beyond your reach!” When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul wept aloud. Saul then said to David: “You are in the right rather than I;  you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm. Great is the generosity you showed me today,  when the LORD delivered me into your grasp and you did not kill me. For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed? May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day. And now, I know that you shall surely be king  and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11

R. (2a) Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
I call to God the Most High,
to God, my benefactor.
May he send from heaven and save me;
may he make those a reproach who trample upon me;
may God send his mercy and his faithfulness.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

 

Gospel mk 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach  and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter;  James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,  that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;  Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

HOMILY

Yesterday, we defined 'jealousy', and we saw how King Saul was so jealous of David, because David was becoming more popular than he was. Also, the Pharisees and elders of the church were so jealous of Jesus Christ for people were flocking to Him more than they were going to the temples or synagogues. 

Today, we have one word to define, and that is 'magnanimity'. Magnanimity is the general feeling of goodness, devoid of any retaliation or revenge. It comes from two Greek words, 'magna' and 'anima', which means 'great soul'. That is why a magnanimous person is one who has a great soul. 

Now we can see opposites - the jealousy of King Saul and the magnanimity of David, who pardoned and did not do revenge upon King Saul, even if he wanted to kill him. This is one of the great events recorded in the Old Testament. Probably David knew that a thousand years after him, Jesus will teach about love of enemies. 

Although so great is the magnanimous act of David, the magnanimity of God cannot be measured. God called 12 disciples to be with Him, but we see who these disciples were. They were tax collectors, cheats, they were ordinary fishermen, a group with a lot more questionable character. 

God's magnanimity is also prevalent in us today. We are all sinners, but God calls us to be with Him. That is why He is also teaching us not to judge people. Let us not look at other people's mistakes, at their wrongdoings, their weaknesses, their faults. A person who is judgmental or is a fault-finder has a low esteem of himself, that is why he passes on his negativity to other people. God is telling us that no matter how sinful we are, we belong to His flock. We are all loved, we are all gathered, because of the mercy of God. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

January 23, 2014

Thursday – Ordinary Time

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

 

Reading 1 1 sm 18:6-9;19:1-7

When David and Saul approached (on David’s return after slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums. The women played and sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: “They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me. All that remains for him is the kingship.” And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David  with his son Jonathan and with all his servants. But Saul’s son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him: “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning;  get out of sight and remain in hiding. I, however, will go out and stand beside my father  in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I will let you know.”

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him: “Let not your majesty sin against his servant David, for he has committed no offense against you,  but has helped you very much by his deeds. When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine,  and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel through him,  you were glad to see it. Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood  by killing David without cause?” Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.” So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him. Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

 

Gospel mk 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

HOMILY

The Catholic Encyclopedia Dictionary defines 'jealousy' as an "intolerance often accompanied by emotional disturbance of wanting to have someone or something owned by another person to be exclusively for his own". Kung ano ang meron ang isa, ang gusto niya, siya lamang ang meron noon. That is why when King Saul saw that David has become popular, he became jealous of David.

Similarly, in our Gospel. we heard that people from all places would go and search for Jesus. He became more and more popular each day. The Word of God is no longer temple-based, but already Kingdom-based, as it is preached by Jesus Christ. Even from the Catholic city of Jerusalem, people were flocking to Jesus, trying to know who He was. This turned the ire of the church elders and leaders, and so they wanted to plot against Him and get rid of Him.

In our lives, people will get angry at us, will be suspicious of us, or will be jealous of us, because of our popularity, or something that we have, that others would also want to have exclusively for their own. And this is the cause of disunity. Jesus Christ came into this world to form us as one family, not only treating others with respect and dignity, but rather with joyous acceptance of who they are.

There is this story of a woman from Trinidad who would always have her daily ritual with her daughter. At night, before she would retire, she would prepare lunch for her daughter for the following day. Then they will have simple breakfast together. Before the mother goes, she would hug her daughter and whisper to her ear, "I will miss you, I love you." And when her daughter is already by the door, the mother will call her and say, "Wait, I still have to look how beautiful you are. You are such a beauty to behold." This would carry on every day. And the daughter will go to school, very happy and confident.

This is what Jesus Christ wants to tell us. "Come to Me...Come to Me in prayer. Come to Me, present yourselves, not only when there are serious things happening in your life. Come to Me in your light moments. Talk to Me in a friendly way....in a light-hearted way." Prayer need not be serious and profound every time. It could be just a silent time with a friend, or just an easy conversation with someone. Jesus would always like to have that conversation with us. Come to Him today. Come to Him and present yourself, and let Jesus behold the beauty that you have inside and outside of you. Let Him be taken by your beauty, which He has created in us all.

Kung tayo ay may pagmamahal sa ating kapwa, hindi tayo maiinggit kung ano ang meron sila. Dahil ang bawat isa sa atin ay binigyan ng Diyos ng katangian na para lamang sa atin. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

January 22, 2014

Wednesday – Ordinary Time

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

by Rev. Fr. Joel Jason (Dean of Studies, Graduate School of Theology San Carlos Seminary)
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (SM Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 1 sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

David spoke to Saul: “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.” But Saul answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.”

David continued: “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “Go! the LORD will be with you.”

Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag. With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine.

With his shield bearer marching before him, the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David. When he had sized David up, and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance, the Philistine held David in contempt. The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods and said to him, “Come here to me, and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” David answered him: “You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted. Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God. All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle is the LORD’s and he shall deliver you into our hands.”

The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters, while David ran quickly toward the battle line  in the direction of the Philistine. David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground. Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword. Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine’s own sword which he drew from its sheath he dispatched him and cut off his head.

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10

R. (1) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My refuge and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Gospel mk 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

HOMILY

Many times, I hear in casual conversations, may mga taong nagsasabi nang, "Uy ikaw, napaka-nega mo." I don't know if you have heard that expression. "Napaka-nega mo naman." One time I heard that, I asked what the statement means. Ang ibig sabihin pala noon ay napaka-negative. People who always see the bad things in life, the negative things in life. And sometimes, they refuse to see what is positive. That is why they are filled with negative energy.

In our Readings for today, we see the same kind of attitude. People who are really 'nega'. For example, in our First Reading, there was a giant named Goliath, who was insulting the Israelites, asking them if they have any warrior who they can draw against him. Then what happened? There was a simple shepherd boy named David who said, "I will not allow this uncircumcised Philistine to insult the true God of Israel."

Pero ano ang sagot ng mga kababayan ni David? "You are just a boy. You're just a shepherd boy. You're simply a youth. You are not a warrior." So all these people surrounding David were 'nega' people. They only see the bad thing or the bad element in people. They refuse to see the positive. Mabuti na lang, David was not consumed with the same attitude. What did David say? "Even though I am just a shepherd boy, with God at my side, I shall conquer Him." So it all depends on what attitude we have.

In our Gospel, what did we hear? We heard about the miraculous cure of a man with a withered hand. And why did Jesus cure the man with a withered hand? Hands are our symbol of accomplishing things, of doing things. And the reason why Jesus healed the man with a withered hand, is because He wanted the man to achieve more in life. With a fully operating hand, the man could achieve something better than he is today.

What can we learn from this Gospel episode? It is clear in the Bible, Jesus tells us to be content with what we have. But He does not tell us to be content with who we are. But the problem is most of us are easily content with who we are, but we are never content with what we have. Who we are is better than what we have. And that is what the Bible is encouraging us to hope for. Never be content with who you are.

Sana, every time we wake up in the morning, that will be part of our goal. Lord, may I be a better parent today than yesterday. May I be a better mother or father today than yesterday. May I be a better child, a better person, a better worker, a better Christian today than yesterday. The moment we become contented with who we are, that is the time that we stop growing.

Jesus healed the man with a withered hand, because He wanted the man to accomplish more, not to be confined with his disability. Jesus wants us to become more. St. Ignatius calls this 'the spirituality of the magis''. 'Magis' is the Latin word for 'more'. It is the origin of the word 'magnanimous' or 'grand'. And that is the will of God for us. Jesus said in the Gospel of John, "I came, that they may have life, and have it to the full." God knows the desires of our heart.

Yes, Jesus tells us to be content with what we have, but let us never be content with who we are. Every day, let us make it our aim to become a better person, to become a better disciple, to become a better Christian, to become a better follower of the Lord. We pray for this grace as we continue with our Eucharist. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

January 21, 2014

Tuesday – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

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

Reading 1 1 sm 16:1-13

The LORD said to Samuel: “How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” But Samuel replied: “How can I go? Saul will hear of it and kill me.” To this the LORD answered: “Take a heifer along and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do; you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.”

Samuel did as the LORD had commanded him. When he entered Bethlehem, the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and inquired, “Is your visit peaceful, O seer?” He replied: “Yes! I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. So cleanse yourselves and join me today for the banquet.” He also had Jesse and his sons cleanse themselves and invited them to the sacrifice. As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.” But the LORD said to Samuel:  “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen him.” Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”  Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, “There anoint him, for this is he!”  Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and from that day on, the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.  When Samuel took his leave, he went to Ramah.

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 89:20, 21-22, 27-28

R. (21a) I have found David, my servant.
Once you spoke in a vision,
and to your faithful ones you said:
“On a champion I have placed a crown;
over the people I have set a youth.”
R. I have found David, my servant.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”
R. I have found David, my servant.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
And I will make him the first-born,
highest of the kings of the earth.”
R. I have found David, my servant.

 

Gospel mk 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

HOMILY

Yes, we live in a world of policies, of laws. But then there are people who are very strict, very objective in exercising these rules, and they do not bend even to the disadvantage of the people, even to the point of losing their humanity. Ang ibig sabihin ay may mga taong nakatuon lamang sa batas kahit na nahihirapan na ang mga tao.

Jesus is telling us that there is a very simple rule to exercise when we are at a dilemma, whether to follow the law or not. As Christians, we have to bend sometimes to give way to the welfare of the people. Sinasabi ni Hesus na mas mahalaga ang tao, mas mataas ang tao kaysa sa batas. Kaya nga ang Kanyang simpleng batas na pinapairal ay ang tao ay hindi ginawa para sa Sabbath, ngunit ang Sabbath ang ginawa para sa tao.

Ibig sabihin, kung tayo ay papipiliin kung dapat gawin ang sinasabi ng batas, ngunit ito naman ay nagpapahirap sa tao, ang susundin natin ay ang batas ng Diyos. Simple lang. The law of God must prevail. And the law of God is none other than the law of LOVE. Man must be made superior to every rule. Hindi dapat nangingibabaw ang batas sa tao. Even the wisest lawmakers cannot anticipate the thousands or even millions of incidences where they can say that the law must be really exercised in its full objectivity. May mga pagkakataon na tayo ay dapat na bumibigay. We must bend some rules if it will be for the welfare and benefit of the people. Ito ang batas ng Diyos. At ito ang dapat manaig - ang batas ng pag-ibig.