September 25, 2012
Tuesday – Weekday
by Rev.Fr. Joseph Feng (Spiritual Director and Orientationer, Lorenzo Mission Institute)
Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord
Reading 1 Prv 21:1-6, 10-13
Like a stream is the king's heart in the hand of the LORD; wherever it pleases him, he directs it. All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart? the tillage of the wicked is sin. The plans of the diligent are sure of profit, but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty. Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares. The soul of the wicked man desires evil; his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes. When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser; when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. The just man appraises the house of the wicked: there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin. He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44
R. (35) Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Lead me in the path of your commands,
for in it I delight.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
And I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Lead me in the path of your commands,
for in it I delight.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
And I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.
R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Gospel Lk 8:19-21
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you." He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it."
HOMILY
Do you love your family? Yes, we love our family. The family is so important especially to us Asians. We value our family so much. It has become our cultural heritage and a backbone of our growth.
What can we say about the family? Number one, the family is the haven where we grow, where we learn to love. It is where we encounter the most natural things in life - with our parents, brothers and sisters. So it is sacred and precious to us. Number two, the family is a school of virtues. It is in the family where we build up our first qualities - through our parents, grandparents and elders. It is where we develop a set of values, from which we develop our character, our personalities. The family is the first school we learn all these things. Third, the family is the first church where we encounter God. Our family is the domestic church where we grow in faith, with our parents, brothers and sisters. Lastly, the family is a home. where we are free to express ourselves. It is very sad that many families are no longer a home. Sometimes, most of us treat our home as a dormitory - sometimes, family members do not want to go home because of bitter memories. The family no longer becomes a home where love resides.
However, in the Gospel, it is said that the family can be a hindrance to our spiritual growth, when it becomes the center of our world, rather than God. Sometimes, we get so concerned about our families, that we forget that the family is just an extension to bring God's love to the world. We should not put the value of the family over God. The family should build us up toward loving God, to reach out to God, and then to others.
In the Gospel today, Jesus is telling us that there is something greater than our family values, and that is the value of the Kingdom of God, When we do the will of God, then the things of God should be over the family. Once a family values God over everything, and puts God first, our family is blessed, and we become part of the bigger family of God.
