October 24, 2012
Wednesday – Weekday – Year of Faith
by Rev. Fr. Joel Jason (Dean, Graduate School of Theology, San Carlos Seminary)
Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord
Reading 1 Eph 3:2-12
Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.
Of this I became a minister by the gift of God's grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.
Of this I became a minister by the gift of God's grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.
Responsorial Psalm Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
R. (see 3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Gospel Lk 12:39-48
Jesus said to his disciples: "Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."
Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."
HOMILY
Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat.
Sa ating mga pagbasa ngayon, malinaw na malinaw ang paalala sa atin. We are all called to be accountable, we are all called to be responsible. At alam naman natin 'yan na kapag tayo ay may ibinigay, mayroon tayong inaasahang ibabalik. Halimbawa ang mga magulang ano, inaasahan nila ang kanilang mga anak, matapos nilang bigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, ay maibabalik naman sa kanila ito sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral nang mabuti at pagtatapos sa pag-aaral.
Parang 'yong kwento ng isang Tatay, noong mag-iiksamen ang kanyang anak, ang sabi ng Tatay. "Anak ha bukas kailangan titignan ko kung ilan ang nakuha mo sa iyong examinations". Dumating 'yong kinabukasan, at ang sabi noong anak sa kanyang Tatay, "Dad, Dad, naka-100 po ako sa test ko ngayon". Ang sabi ng Tatay "Ay mabuti naman kung ganoon. Saan ka naka-100?" At ang sabi ng anak, "Ayun po - 50 po doon sa Spelling at 50 po sa Math". (laughs) 100 nga naman ano. (laughs)
We want to be held accountable, and we want people to be accountable to what we have given them. Alam po ninyo, noong nakaraang Linggo lang ay ipinagdiwang natin ang canonization ni Saint Pedro Calungsod. At nandirito ang kanyang larawan, ang kanyang imahen. Pero di ko alam kung napapansin ninyo na ngayon ay may nauuso na bagong larawan ni Pedro Calungsod. Ang tawag nila dito ay si Pedrito. Ito ay mga maliliit na dolls na Pedro Calungsod, na mukhang Barbie doll (laughs). Na kapag tiningnan ninyo, naku ang cute cute ni Pedro Calungsod.
You know, I was in a discussion with some of the priests at ang sabi ko, alam nyo, maganda nga 'yang mga image ni Pedrito, but I would not encourage us to be so fond of that doll image of Pedro Calungsod. Bakit? Kasi kay Pedrito, parang nati-trivialize 'yong symbol ni Pedro Calungsod. Kasi 'yong mga doll, kung mayroon kang doll, naku pwede mong paglaruan, ang gandang gawing display, ang gandang ilagay doon sa cabinet, ang gandang ilagay sa kotse, na parang 'yong mga asong gumagalaw galaw ang ulo (laughs), parang ginagawa nating ganoon ang image ni Pedro Calungsod. But when you look at the image of Pedro Calungsod, the real image, ay matatakot ka. Bakit? Anu-ano ba ang sinisimbulo ni Pedro Calungsod?
Unang una, the palm. What is the symbol of the palm? That is the symbol of martyrdom. And Pedro Calungsod became a martyr, because he was ready to die for his faith. Alam naman natin kung paano siya namatay hindi ba? Kasi si Padre Diego na kasama ni Pedro Calungsod ay nagbinyag doon sa anak ng isang chieftain. Nagalit 'yong chieftain and so tatagain niya o sisibatin 'yong pari. Ano ang ginawa ni Pedro Calungsod? Hinarang niya at siya 'yong sumalo ng sibat na dapat para doon sa pari. Ang tanong ko sa inyo - kaya n'yo bang gawin 'yon? Ready ba kayong gawin 'yon na saluhin 'yong sibat na para sa pari? Hindi - kayo pa 'yong sisibat do'n sa pari. (laughs)
What does martyrdom mean? Pedro Calungsod was ready to die for the faith. Kay Pedrito hindi natin nakikita 'yan eh - ay ang cute cute ni Pedrito. Pero pag nakita ninyo ang larawan ni Pedro Calungsod - ah, I will be reminded that I should be ready to die for what my faith teaches.
Ano po ang nakita natin? Si Pedro Calungsod ay may hawak na libro - Doctrina Christiana. Ano'ng ibig sabihin niyan? Ah - dapat kong alamin ang aking pananampalataya. No Christian should become a Christian without even knowing what his faith is telling him. That is also a challenge.
Then mapapansin nyo 'yong kanyang kanang paa ay para bang naka-angat. Naka-forward. Bakit naka-angat o naka-forward ang kanyang kanang paa? That is a symbol na hindi siya nahihiya. He is ready to step forward and be identified that he is a Christian, and that he is ready to die for his faith. He has been given much and that is why it is expected to give much.
Alam po ninyo, tayo sa bansang Pilipinas, we have also been given much. Ano ang ibinigay sa atin? We have the title of being the only Christian nation in Asia. And like Pedro Calungsod, we should be ready to step forward and be known as a Christian nation. Kaya lang ano ang sinasabi ng ating mga mambabatas? 'Naku tayo na lang ang bansang walang diborsiyo, nakakahiya'. Hindi 'yan dapat ikahiya. Dapat 'yan we step forward and tell them 'yes, we are the only Christian nation, where divorce is still illegal'. Sabi ng ating mga mambabatas, 'Naku tayo na lang ang bansang hindi legal ang abortion. Nakakahiya naman'. No. On the contrary, it should be a source of our pride, like Pedro Calungsod. And we should step up and be identified that we are the only Christian nation in Asia, where abortion is still illegal. Kaya atin talagang lalabanan ang RH bill, dahil alam naman natin na diyan na rin papunta 'yan.
Today in this mass, we are being reminded that the Philippines has been given much. And because we have been given much, much will be expected from all of us. Sana po ang ating pagiging Kristiyano ay hindi manatiling sa pangalan lamang. As we celebrate the memory of Saint Pedro Calungsod, let that be a challenge that is given to each and everyone of us. We are called to be Christians, not only by name. We are called to be Christians by faith, by practice, with the lives we live each day. Remember what Jesus said in the Gospel today, to whom much is given, much will also be expected. We have been given much, therefore, the Lord also expects much from each and everyone of us, Amen.
Saint Pedro Calungsod - Pray for us
