Gospel Reflection

October 01, 2012

Monday
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

by Rev. Fr. Prudencio 'Jun' T. Solomon (Rector and Parish Priest)

(Archdiocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Sampaloc Manila)
Guest Priest, Lunch Mass at EDSA Shrine, Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish

Reading 1 Jb 1:6-22

One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming the earth and patrolling it." And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?" But Satan answered the LORD and said, "Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face." And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them, and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid.

They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put those tending them to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead;

and I alone have escaped to tell you." Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,

"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1bcd, 2-3, 6-7

R. (6) Incline your ear to me and hear my word.

Hear, O LORD, a just suit;

attend to my outcry;

hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.

R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.

From you let my judgment come;

your eyes behold what is right.

Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,

though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.

R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

incline your ear to me; hear my word.

Show your wondrous mercies,

O savior of those who flee

from their foes to refuge at your right hand.

R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.

Gospel Lk 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest."

Then John said in reply, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company." Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."

HOMILY

"Guro, nakakita po kami ng isang taong nagpapalayas ng demonyo sa iyong pangalan, at pinagbawalan namin siya." Sumagot si Hesus, "Huwag nyo siyang pagbawalan, sapagkat ang hindi laban sa atin, ay panig sa atin".

Mga ginigiliw kong kapatid, ito ang isa sa mga tukso sa mga taong naglilingkod o tumutulong, o kaya naman ay madalas na tumutungtong at dumadalo sa isang simbahan o sa isang bahay dalanginan. Sometimes, people tend to perceive themselves as having a monopoly of God, of having the monopoly of His grace. Katulad ng ibang mga alagad ni Hesus, ang akala nila, sila lamang dapat ang may saklaw kay Hesus at sa kanyang kapangyarihan. Pero ang Diyos kailanman ay hindi saklaw ng iisang tao. Ang Diyos kailanman ay hindi saklaw ng iilang grupo. God can never be limited to a few. Kailanman, ang Diyos ay hindi masasaklaw ng iilang tao.

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, kung titingnan po natin sa tuwing tayo'y dumadalo ng mga pagdiriwang sa loob ng simbahan, ang tagapagdiwang ang bumabati sa inyo "Sumainyo ang Panginoon." At ano ang ating tugon? "At sumainyo rin." Ang mga katagang ito ay nagpapa-alaala sa atin, na anuman ang ating tinanggap, ay dapat ibahagi. At si Hesus ay kasama sa ating tinatanggap. Ang kanyang mga Salita ay kasama sa ating tinatanggap. Ang kanyang katauhan, ang ating pagkakilala, lalong lalo na ang ating pananampalataya sa Kanya, ay ating tinatanggap bilang handog ng Diyos sa atin.

Everything that you have received from God is not meant to be kept, but to be shared. What we have received is not ours to keep, but it is ours to freely give to others. Nawa ang mga katagang 'yon, kapag naririnig natin "Sumainyo ang Panginoon", "At sumainyo rin", sana ay patuloy na ipaalala sa atin na ang lahat ng bagay, kabilang na ang Diyos na ating tinatanggap sa ating buhay, ay dapat ibahagi sa iba.

Ibahagi ninyo si Hesus sa inyong kaibigan. Ibahagi ninyo si Hesus sa inyong mga kapamilya, kakilala, kasambahay, maging kapitbahay. Ipaalala ninyo at ibahagi ninyo si Hesus sa iba. We do not have the monopoly of God. We do not have the monopoly of His grace. Everything that we have received must be given freely, including Jesus, to others.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus