Gospel Reflection

February 06, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Weekday

Memorial of Saint Miki and Companions, Martyrs

by Rev.  Fr. Nilo Mangussad (Rector Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish)

12;15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Heb 12:4-7, 11-15

Brothers and sisters: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges. Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as his sons. For what Ason” is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18a

R. (see 17) The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
For he knows how we are formed;
he remembers that we are dust.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward children’s children
among those who keep his covenant.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Gospel Mk 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.  When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

HOMILY

We seem to be always in a distressing situation. We are always bombarded with negative things in life that we complain. If only there is somebody who can help us, probably this becomes easier to manage. But the truth is, God is always here with us - guiding, helping, protecting us. The only problem is we only see the distressing situation, but not the hand of God helping us. 

Just like any parent, God allows us to experience situations - challenging as they are - to help us grow, to learn discipline, and to mold our character. It is character building. Just like a parent does this to his children, God does the same to us, not to hurt, not to punish, but to protect. To help us become stronger in the situations of life. 

You see, my brothers and sisters, the world is never away from such melt pot of distress, of rejection and of pain. But we must remember this. Even if we are subjected to this kind of 'heat' in life, God holds the thermostat. If we can realize that God is in control of all the 'heat' in our lives, then things become bearable. 

The only question is - what do we believe in, whenever these negative things happen in our life? Is it the fault of God, or is it God's hand adjusting the thermostat of our life?