March 15, 2013
Friday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons
by Rev. Fr. Nilo Mangussad (Rector Our Lady of Peace
Quasi-Parish)
Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of
Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)
The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: “Let
us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against
our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with
violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles
himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because
his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us
debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest
the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether
his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one
be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his
foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have
proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful
death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” These were their
thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not
the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor
discern the innocent souls’ reward.
Responsorial Psalm PS
34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23
R. (19a) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel
in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of
Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.
HOMILY
Those people who do well or good, or
who strive to do right, are hated by the general populous. A lot of people do
not like those who are different in what they do, because it makes them so
obvious in their mistakes and wrongdoings. Thus, a lot of people are persecuted
because they try to live a righteous life.
No wonder, the Church is being
attacked left and right, by a world that accepts abortion, that encourages
pornography, and that destroys marriage and the family. It is because the
Church holds the moral values handed down by our forefathers. Thank God we
have a new Pope who is willing to make use of these moral values.
The Lord is reminding us of these
attacks left and right. The First Reading reminds us how we will be attacked,
and the Gospel tells us that Jesus Himself acknowledges these people who will
attack us. Let us pray, therefore, that we may given the strength to face them,
and the courage to sustain our faith, in spite of what we see and receive.
My brothers and sisters, Lent is the
best time to purify our intentions. Are we willing to do things for the Lord,
or are we just satisfying the people around us?
