Gospel Reflection

July 08, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Prudencio 'Jun' T. Solomon, Jr., Parochial Vicar, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Sampaloc, Manila

12:15PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

 

Reading 1 Gn 28:10-22a

Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran. When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set, he stopped there for the night. Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep at that spot. Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s messengers were going up and down on it. And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying: “I, the LORD, am the God of your forefather Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants. These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth, and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south. In you and your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing. Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.”

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed, “Truly, the LORD is in this spot, although I did not know it!” In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven!” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head, set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it. He called the site Bethel, whereas the former name of the town had been Luz.

Jacob then made this vow: “If God remains with me, to protect me on this journey I am making and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear, and I come back safe to my father’s house, the LORD shall be my God. This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God’s abode.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab

R. (see 2b) In you, my God, I place my trust.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge.
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress.
R. In you, my God, I place my trust.

Gospel Mt 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.

HOMILY

Sino sa atin dito, ang minsan, sa kanilang buhay o sa kanilang pagdarasal, ang humawak o humipo sa isang imahen? Ilan po sa atin dito ang sa pagdarasal ay lumalapit sa mga santo at bago lisanin ay hinahawakan o hinihipo ang banal na imahen?

Bakit natin ginagawa 'yon? Marahil kaya natin ginagawa 'yon ay sapagkat gusto nating ipakita ang konkretong paraan ng ating pagkapit sa ating pananalangin, sa ating pagsamba, sa ating pagbibigay galang, sa ating pagpupugay. Ito ang konkretong paraan ng ating pagpapahayag ng pananampalataya. Hindi lamang natin gustong maramdaman 'yong ating kinakapitan. Naniniwala ako na gusto nating maramdaman na sa ating paghipo't paghawak ay dumadaloy sa atin ang biyaya ng Diyos. Di po ba?

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kaibigan, ito ang nasa isip ng babaeng lumapit kay Hesus sa Kanyang likuran, nang sabihin niyang 'mahipo ko lang ang Kanyang damit, ako ay gagaling'. Lumapit siya at kanyang hinipo ang laylayan ng damiit ni Hesus. Ito'y isang pamamaraan ng kanyang pagpapakita ng pagkapit sa paniniwalang ang kapangyarihan ni Hesus ay dadaloy sa kanya. At siya'y hindi nagkamali. Sinabi ng Panginoon, "Lakasan mo ang loob mo, humayo ka, iniligtas ka ng iyong pananampalataya."

Mga kapatid, ang damit o balabal ni Hesus ang hinipo ng babaeng lumapit sa Kanya. At sa ating Simbahan, iniwan ni Hesus ang Kanyang damit. Iniwan ni Hesus ang Kanyang balabal upang ating mahawakan. At iyon ay walang iba kundi ang mga banal na Sakramento. At hindi lamang natin nahahawakan. Sapagkat sa mga Sakramento, sa pamamagitan, lalo na, ng pagbabalik-loob natin, ay naririnig natin ang salita ni Hesus. Sa banal na Eukaristiya, hindi lang natin nahahawakan, kundi atin pang natitikman at nalalasahan si Kristo. Sa pagpahid ng banal na olyo sa maysakit, nararamdaman natin ang pagpatong ng kamay ni Hesus sa mga may karamdaman. Sa binyag, nararamdaman natin ang pagtanggap ni Kristo sa mga bata o sa atin na nabinyagan. Ang balabal, ang damit ni Hesus, ay iniwan Niya sa ating Simbahan, upang tayo ay lumapit din, upang tayo ay humipo at humawak.

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kaibigan, sana ay mas lalo nating ipakita ang konkretong paraan ng ating pagkapit kay Hesus sa pamamagitan ng paglapit natin sa mga banal na Sakramento. Sa damit na ito na iniwan ng Panginoon, tayong lahat ay makakaramdam at magkakaroon ng kagalingan, hindi lamang ng pangangatawan kundi ng ating kalooban.