Gospel Reflection

November 10, 2012

Saturday – Year of Faith

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

by Rev. Fr. Paul Marquez (St. Paul Church and Seminary, Bagtikan Street, Makati)

Lunch Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

Reading 1 Phil 4:10-19

Brothers and sisters: I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, "a fragrant aroma," an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 112:1b-2, 5-6, 8a and 9

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Lk 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God."

HOMILY

Napakinggan po natin sa ating mga Pagbasa ang bahagi ng liham ni San Pablo sa mga taga-Filipos. Ang tawag sa mga sulat ni San Pablo sa mga taga-Filipos ay "letters of joy". Masaya si San Pablo sa mga taga-Filipos. Hindi dahil palagi siyang tinutulungan ng mga taga-Filipos, kundi lagi siyang naaalala. Mahal na mahal ni San Pablo ang mga taga-Filipos.

Ako po minsan ay nagpunta sa World Trade Center at doon po ay may bazaar at talk ukol sa negosyo. Doon po sa talk ay itinuro, di lamang kung paano maging 'smart' sa negosyo, kundi kung paano maging 'ethical' sa negosyo. Kinakailangang palaging nasa tama at matuwid ang iyong paggawa ng negosyo. At kapag ikaw ay nangako na magbabayad, kailangang nasa oras. Kapag may sinabi kang ide-deliver na ganoong quality, ganoon talaga ang ide-deliver mo. 

Ito ay maiuugnay natin sa sinabi ng ating Ebanghelyo ngayon na kung sino ang mapagkakatiwalaan sa maliit ay mapagkakatiwalaan sa mas malaki at higit pa - at ito ang kayamanan sa langit. Ito ay isang napakagandang paalala sa atin sa pang-araw araw nating mga gawain. Binigyan tayo ng Panginoon ng biyaya na kinakailangan nating gamitin sa wasto at pagyamanin.

Alam naman po natin na ang Panginoon ay hindi po tumingin sa pera. Ang mga taong nakapaligid sa Kanya, hindi Siya nakitaan ng salapi sa Kanyang bulsa. Ang Kanyang tiwala ay palaging nasa Diyos. Sinasabi sa atin ng Panginoon na matutong laging magtiwala sa Diyos at sa Kanyang mga biyaya. At ang mga biyayang iyan ay makikita natin sa mga taong nasa paligid natin. Ang unang-unang biyayang ibinigay sa atin ng Diyos ay ang ating pamilya, mga kaibigan at kasama sa trabaho at pamayanan. Hindi tayo maaring mabuhay nang nag-iisa, kaya't dapat tayong magkaroon ng kababaang-loob na tumanggap ng mga biyaya at magbahagi din ng ating mga biyaya sa ating kapwa. Habang tumutulong tayo ay dapat din tayong magpasalamat sa tinutulungan natin, sapagkat hindi lang sila ang nabe-bless kundi mas higit tayo. Ipinalangin nating tayo ay patuloy na biyayaan ng Diyos at tayo ay maging malinis na sisidlan ng Kanyang biyaya, sapagkat kung punong puno ang ating sisidlan at sinasarili lang natin, mabubulok ang biyaya ng Diyos.

Nakatutuwang ang biyaya at grasya ng Diyos ay umiikot at nagpapatuloy. Napakasayang maranasan ang biyaya ng Diyos sa maliit at malaking bagay. Sana po sa ating buhay ay makita natin kung paanong patuloy na kumikilos ang Diyos para sa atin, sa maliit at malaking bagay, mula noon hanggang ngayon. Sana maramdaman natin kung paanong ang kamay ng Diyos ay pilit tayong inaabot. Maging mapagpasalamat tayo palagi at manalanging tayo, tulad ng Diyos nang nabuhay Siya dito sa lupa, na makuntento tayo at gamitin nang wasto ang ating mga biyaya, lalong lalo na pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa ating kapwa, lalo na sa malilit at nahihirapan sa buhay.

 

 

Saint Leo the Great – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - Saint Leo the Great

A Holy Life

Saint Leo the Great

d. 461

Feast day – November 10

With apparent strong conviction of the importance of the Bishop of Rome in the Church, and of the Church as the ongoing sign of Christ’s presence in the world, Leo the Great displayed endless dedication in his role as pope. Elected in 440, he worked tirelessly as "Peter’s successor," guiding his fellow bishops as "equals in the episcopacy and infirmities." Leo is known as one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church.

His work branched into four main areas, indicative of his notion of the pope’s total responsibility for the flock of Christ. He worked at length to control the heresies of Pelagianism, Manichaeism and others, placing demands on their followers so as to secure true Christian beliefs. A second major area of his concern was doctrinal controversy in the Church in the East, to which he responded with a classic letter setting down the Church’s teaching on the nature of Christ. With strong faith, he also led the defence of Rome against barbarian attack, taking the role of peacemaker. In these three areas, Leo’s work has been highly regarded. His growth to sainthood has its basis in the spiritual depth with which he approached the pastoral care of his people, which was the fourth focus of his work. He is known for his spiritually profound sermons. An instrument of the call to holiness, well-versed in Scripture and ecclesiastical awareness, Leo had the ability to reach the everyday needs and interests of his people. One of his Christmas sermons is still famous today.

At a time when there is widespread criticism of Church structures, we also hear criticism that bishops and priests — indeed, all of us — are too preoccupied with administration of temporal matters. Pope Leo is an example of a great administrator who used his talents in areas where spirit and structure are inseparably combined: doctrine, peace and pastoral care. He avoided an "angelism" that tries to live without the body, as well as the "practicality" that deals only in externals.  

 

Sources for this article were taken from:  AmericanCatholic.org

 

Prayer

O God,

You established Your Church on the solid rock of St. Peter.

Grant that she may persevere in Your truth and enjoy continual peace

Through the intercession of Pope St. Leo.

Amen.

Pope Saint Leo – Pray for us