January 31, 2013
Thursday – Year of Faith – Weekday
Memoriall
of Saint John Bosco, Priest
by Rev.
Fr. Benjo Fajota (Vice Rector of the EDSA Shrine)
5:30PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen
of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)
Reading 1 Heb 10:19-25
Brothers and sisters: Since
through the Blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by
the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and
since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” let us approach with a
sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an
evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly
to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is
trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We
should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage
one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to
see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Gospel Mk 4:21-25
Jesus said to his
disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a
bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to
be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears
to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The
measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will
be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has
not, even what he has will be taken away.”
HOMILY
St. Thomas Aquinas defines faith,
simply as "the education of the heart". How do we educate the heart?
Educators and psychologists say that people retain only 10% of what they have
learned in school. Yes, only 10%. Why is this so? Because it is a passive way
of learning. That is why in our Eucharistic celebration, we are encouraged to
act quickly, consciously, and truly participate in the celebration - in our
responses, in our prayers, in our joining in the singing. That is why we always
remember.
During the time of our grandparents,
'yong mga matatanda pa sa atin, kapag ang isang babae ay nagsabing
mag-aasawa na siya, laging mayroong "say" ang kanyang mga
magulang. Sasabihin nila, "Pag pinili mo 'yang katipan mo ngayon, hindi
gaanong maganda ang iyong kinabukasan. Pero kapag pinili mo itong isang
manliligaw mo, meron siyang isang salita, responsable siya, at mayroon siyang
galang sa matatanda, magkakaroon ka ng magandang kinabukasan." At ang
huling sasabihin sa iyo ng iyong mga magulang ay, "Matututunan mo rin
siyang mahalin."
Kaya't ang pag-ibig ay natututunan,
kapag ito ay ipinapakita, hindi lamang sinasabi. We show our love, not merely in words, but more so, with
our actions.
In the Eucharist, we always remember
the memorial and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That's why we will not forget
the Great Sacrifice that He made for all of us. Nang dahil sa pag-ibig. Kaya
ang ating Eukaristiya....It is not merely a set of rituals that we do, but
the mass enlightens our memory to always remember the Great Sacrifice of
God.
And that is also true in our faith. Kapag
ito ay ipinapahayag, ibinabahagi, isinasabuhay, paulit-ulit nating makikita na
ang liwanag ng Ebanghelyo ay nakikita sa ating buhay. Hindi natin ito
ipinapahayag sa pamamagitan lamang ng ating salita, kung hindi sa ating gawa.
And this is an invitation and a challenge for both of us. Let the Word of God
transform us, change us, and change others. Amen.
