Gospel Reflection

September 17, 2012

Monday

The Sacred Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast)

by Rev. Fr. Montecarlo Veloria (Shrine of the Our Lady of Mercy, Novaliches)

Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 - 1 Cor. 11:17-26,33

Brothers and sisters, to continue with my advice, I cannot praise you, for your gatherings are not for the better but for the worse.
First, as I have heard, when you gather together, there are divisions among you and I partly believe it. There may have to be different groups among you, so that it becomes clear who among you are genuine.
Your gatherings are no longer the Supper of the Lord, ‑for each one eats at once his own food and while one is hungry, the other is getting drunk. Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or perhaps you despise the Church of God and desire to humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say? Shall I praise you? For this I cannot praise you.
This is the tradition of the Lord that I received and that in my turn I have handed on to you; the Lord Jesus, on the night that he was delivered up, took bread and, after giving thanks, broke it, saying, “This is my body which is broken for you; do this in memory of me.” In the same manner, taking the cup after the supper, he said, “This cup is the new Covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do it in memory of me.” So, then, whenever you eat of this bread and drink from this cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord until he comes.
So then, brothers, when you gather for a meal, wait for one another.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 40;7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17

R. (1 Cor 11:26b) Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

Gospel - Luke 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished teaching to the people, he went to Capernaum.
There was a captain whose servant was very sick and near to death, a man very dear to him. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to persuade him to come and save his servant’s life. The elders came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, saying, “He deserves this of you, for he loves our people and even built a synagogue for us.”
Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the captain sent friends to give this message, “Sir, do not trouble yourself for I am not worthy to welcome you under my roof. You see I didn’t approach you myself. Just give the order and my servant will be healed. For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers and I say to this one: ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to the other: ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant: ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
On hearing these words, Jesus was filled with admiration. He turned and said to the people with him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” The people sent by the captain went back to his house; there they found that the servant was well.

HOMILY

Our Gospel today has two messages. The Gospel story talks about a centurion. During the time of Jesus, a centurion had tremendous power and had many soldiers and civilians under him. But look at the centurion at the Gospel - he is very humble, napakabait, mapagpakumbaba, magalang. Alam niya na mayroon pang mas makapangyarihan sa kanya, at 'yon ay walang iba kundi si Hesus. And the centurion in the Gospel ay hindi lamang napakabait sa ibang tao, kundi napakabait sa mga katulong, sa kanyang mga nasasakupan. Nagkaroon ng sakit ang kanyang tauhan at ipinakiusap niya sa mga kaparian na tawagin si Hesus at pagalingin ang kanyang katulong, kasi naniniwala siya na bilang isang pagan, he had no right to bond with the Jews. And Jesus said yes, he can go. But then again the centurion knew that a Jew was not allowed to enter into a pagan's house. Kaya sabi niya, pakisabi kay Hesus, "I am not worthy to let you enter into my roof. I am a pagan, and live in a pagan house. But only say the word, and my servant will be healed." Napakaganda ng mga salitang ito. Kaya sinabi ni Hesus, "Never have I seen anyone in Israel with such faith."

We repeat the centurion's word every mass before we say the Communion. Hindi ho ba - ganoon kaganda. Napakaganda - hindi natakot ang centurion, tunay siyang naniwala sa Diyos.

The second message is this - Jesus also reminds us how we should treat our helpers and subordinates. There are many who maltreat their helpers. In other countries, it is very expensive to get helpers. Pero dito sa atin, madali lang tayo makakuha ng katulong. Pero ano ang turing natin sa kanila? Minsan ay sinasaktan natin sila. Ang tawag natin sa kanila ay mga kasambahay - we should treat them as kasambahay. Mayroon din silang mga karapatan. Jesus reminds us not to mistreat others, especially those who help and assist us, as a response to God's love.

St. Francis of Assisi – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - St. Francis of Assisi