July 23, 2013
Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time
by
Rev. Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari
(Assistant
Commissioner for Office Administration, Commission on Liturgy & Minister,
Ministry on Liturgical Environment and Art, Archdiocese of Manila)
5:30PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)
5:30PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD
swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it
into dry land. When the water was thus divided, the children of Israel marched
into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their
right and to their left.
The Egyptians followed in pursuit; all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. In the night watch just before dawn the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly drive. With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel, because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.
Then the LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their charioteers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea, when the LORD hurled them into its midst. As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army that had followed the children of Israel into the sea. Not a single one of them escaped. But the children of Israel had marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and beheld the great power that the LORD had shown against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD:
I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
The Egyptians followed in pursuit; all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. In the night watch just before dawn the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly drive. With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel, because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.
Then the LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their charioteers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea, when the LORD hurled them into its midst. As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army that had followed the children of Israel into the sea. Not a single one of them escaped. But the children of Israel had marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and beheld the great power that the LORD had shown against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD:
I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
R. (1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself
in glory.
At the breath of your anger the waters piled up,
the flowing waters stood like a mound,
the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea.
The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them;
I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them;
I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!”
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
When your wind blew, the sea covered them;
like lead they sank in the mighty waters.
When you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them!
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O LORD,
the sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands established.
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
At the breath of your anger the waters piled up,
the flowing waters stood like a mound,
the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea.
The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them;
I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them;
I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!”
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
When your wind blew, the sea covered them;
like lead they sank in the mighty waters.
When you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them!
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O LORD,
the sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands established.
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his
brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your
mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But
he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my
brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are
my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is
my brother, and sister, and mother.”
HOMILY
The
word 'family' is loaded with meaning. It is pregnant in meaning, ideas, images,
hopes, and sometimes, even regrets. That is why if we look at our Gospel for
today, it is good to ask - 'What is your picture of 'family'? When you mention
the word 'family', ano ang ating naiisip? How would you describe your family?
They say that it is in our family where our relationships are established. It is because it is in the family that a person feels a sense of belonging. The Jews value their family. Whenever the Jews introduce themselves, they always use genealogy - kung saan sila nagmulang angkan, ang pinagmulan nilang pamilya. Hindi ito pag-aaksaya ng panahon kundi pinapakita doon na sa bawat pamilya, nararamdaman 'yong sense of identity and belonging. Sabi nga nila, para makilala mo ang isang tao, tingnan mo ang kanyang pamilya at pinagmulan o pinanggalingan. Sapagkat sa isang banda, tayong lahat ay produkto ng ating pamilya.
You know, in the Bible, the family is very important. Kaya nga noong si Cain ay pinarusahan ng Panginoon, na siya ay magiging restless wanderer, sabi ni Cain sa Panginoon, "My punishment is more than I can bear." It is very difficult. Why? Because Cain has to leave his family behind and be on his own. Siya ay mag-iisa sa buhay niya. When the Lord called Abraham to leave his family, to lead the people to the promised land, it shows the abandonment of Abraham. Mahirap 'yon, kasi iiwanan niya ang kanyang kinalakihan. 'Yong kanyang sense of security ay mawawala. 'Yong mga taong kilalang-kilala na niya ay kanyang tatalikdan. That is why we call Abraham the 'father of faith', because he gave up so much in his desire to follow the Lord.
Kaya ang pamilya ay napakahalaga sa bawat tao. They say the family gives three things to a person. And what are those? First is the sense of inclusion, belongingness. Second is security in life. Kaya nga sabi nila, kahit na ikaw ay pagod, kapag umuwi ka sa iyong pamilya, makakaramdam ka ng kapayapaan. That's why we call it 'tahanan', na kung saan naroroon ang pagtahan, ang kapayapaan. The third one is spiritual continuity, kung saan ang tao ay hinuhubog sa kanyang ugnayan sa Panginoon. That is why the family is also called the domestic church. Sa pamilya natin unang nakikilala ang Panginoon.
In our Gospel, the people were telling Jesus that His family is looking for Him. Nandiyan sila, gusto nilang kausapin si Hesus. Siguro kailangang ating tignan, ano. In the Gospel, Jesus is not appearing rude to His family. Hindi Siya bastos. Ngunit ano ang sinasabi diyan? Binibigyan ni Hesus ng bagong kahulugan ang salitang 'pamilya'. Kaya ano ang makikita natin sa ating Gospel?
For Jesus, there are three foundations of a family. And what are those?
First is common ideal. In the Gospel, Jesus pointed out to His disciples that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is His family. The disciples have their own attitude, their own idiosyncrasies, their own temperament. Ang sabi nga ng mga Bible scholars, kung sila-sila lang, sila ay mag-aaway-away at pwedeng magpatayan. But the disciples are bonded because they wanted to follow Jesus. That is the first reminder to us. Saan mang pamilya, anumang lugar, anumang organisasyon o simbahan, dapat naroroon 'yong common ideal which will unify the community. Pag nawala na 'yong common ideal, kanya-kanya na 'yan. Sa ating lipunan, ipanalangin natin na 'yong common ideal ng bawat pamilya, ng bawat simbahan at bawat pamayanan, ay walang iba kundi ang masundan si Kristo.
The second one is common experience. Minsan may mga pagkakataon na mas kilala ka pa ng ibang tao kaysa sa sarili mong pamilya. Noong isang araw nga, kausap ko ang isa kong kaibigan, ang sabi niya sa akin 'yong Tatay niya, noong siya ay nasa highschool, talagang napakahigpit. Kaya close na close daw siya sa kanyang mga kaklase, kaysa sa Tatay niya, kaya mas marami pang alam ang mga kaklase niya tungkol sa kanya, kaysa sa kanyang sariling Tatay. Kaya kapag sila raw ay nagre-reunion, 'yon ang kanilang palaging binabalikan, that common experience.
Siguro ito ang ikalawang hamon sa atin. When we look at Jesus's disciples, ang kanilang ipinapangaral ay hindi lamang 'yong itinuro sa kanila ni Kristo, kundi ibinabahagi din nila sa mga tao ang kanilang common experience with Christ. Kailan sila kumain kasama ni Kristo. Kailan sila nagpagaling ng mga maysakit kasama si Kristo. Ang common experience ang ating panghahawakan sa buhay. A while ago, I was talking to a contractor in our seminary, who is a father of a family. Sabi niya, kapag Linggo daw ay busy siya. Kasi daw tuwing umaga - siya ay taga-Cavite - siya ay tumutulong sa pagbibigay ng Holy Communion sa mga nagsisimba at sa mga malalayong lugar. And then in the afternoon, he also serves as a lector in their parish. Kaya kinausap niya ang kanyang pamilya at sinabi niya sa kanila na dahil sa araw ng Linggo ay medyo abala siya, 'yong Sabado ang kanilang gagawing family bonding day. Sinabi niya sa akin na kailangan talagang maglaan ka ng panahon para makasama mo ang pamilya mo, kung ito ay mahalaga para sa iyo. Noong isang araw po ay nagpunta ako sa isang lamay sa isang parokya sa Navotas. Namatay 'yong Tatay ng isa kong kaibigan doon. I know the whole family. The daughter told me that she will miss the times when she and her father will have breakfast together, and spend quality time with each other. That is common. experience that binds us together. And it is a good reminder for us. In spite of our busy lives, what our family will remember is not whatever material things we have given to them, but how, through us, they have experienced quality bonding moments, how they experienced love and joy. Mawawala ang maraming bagay, kayamanan, katalinuhan, pero ang maa-alala ng ating pamilya at mahal sa buhay ay ang mga magagandang karanasan na iiwanan natin sa kanila.
The third one is common obedience. In the Gospel, Jesus says that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is His brother, His sister and mother. Ito ay paala-ala sa mga Hudyo noong mga panahong iyon. Why? It is because the Jews always take pride in saying that they are the children of Abraham. At dahil si Abraham ang kanilang ama, mayroon silang kaligtasan. Pero ang sinasabi ni Hesus, hindi lahat ng tumatawag ng 'Panginoon, Panginoon' ay maliligtas. It is not just saying, but doing. If we are willing to do the will of God, we are united with God's family. Sa isang pamilya, kung ang bawat isa ay handang sumunod sa kautusan ng Diyos at sa kautusan sa pamilya, magkakaroon ng ayos, nang magandang ugnayan, ng tagumpay ang pangarap ng mga magulang para sa kanilang mga anak.
We cannot choose our family. When we remember our family, do we see it as a blessing from God or do we sometimes feel that we are stuck with our own family? Jesus is reminding us of these three things, to consider that our family is real and encouraging - common ideal, common experience, and common obedience.
They say that it is in our family where our relationships are established. It is because it is in the family that a person feels a sense of belonging. The Jews value their family. Whenever the Jews introduce themselves, they always use genealogy - kung saan sila nagmulang angkan, ang pinagmulan nilang pamilya. Hindi ito pag-aaksaya ng panahon kundi pinapakita doon na sa bawat pamilya, nararamdaman 'yong sense of identity and belonging. Sabi nga nila, para makilala mo ang isang tao, tingnan mo ang kanyang pamilya at pinagmulan o pinanggalingan. Sapagkat sa isang banda, tayong lahat ay produkto ng ating pamilya.
You know, in the Bible, the family is very important. Kaya nga noong si Cain ay pinarusahan ng Panginoon, na siya ay magiging restless wanderer, sabi ni Cain sa Panginoon, "My punishment is more than I can bear." It is very difficult. Why? Because Cain has to leave his family behind and be on his own. Siya ay mag-iisa sa buhay niya. When the Lord called Abraham to leave his family, to lead the people to the promised land, it shows the abandonment of Abraham. Mahirap 'yon, kasi iiwanan niya ang kanyang kinalakihan. 'Yong kanyang sense of security ay mawawala. 'Yong mga taong kilalang-kilala na niya ay kanyang tatalikdan. That is why we call Abraham the 'father of faith', because he gave up so much in his desire to follow the Lord.
Kaya ang pamilya ay napakahalaga sa bawat tao. They say the family gives three things to a person. And what are those? First is the sense of inclusion, belongingness. Second is security in life. Kaya nga sabi nila, kahit na ikaw ay pagod, kapag umuwi ka sa iyong pamilya, makakaramdam ka ng kapayapaan. That's why we call it 'tahanan', na kung saan naroroon ang pagtahan, ang kapayapaan. The third one is spiritual continuity, kung saan ang tao ay hinuhubog sa kanyang ugnayan sa Panginoon. That is why the family is also called the domestic church. Sa pamilya natin unang nakikilala ang Panginoon.
In our Gospel, the people were telling Jesus that His family is looking for Him. Nandiyan sila, gusto nilang kausapin si Hesus. Siguro kailangang ating tignan, ano. In the Gospel, Jesus is not appearing rude to His family. Hindi Siya bastos. Ngunit ano ang sinasabi diyan? Binibigyan ni Hesus ng bagong kahulugan ang salitang 'pamilya'. Kaya ano ang makikita natin sa ating Gospel?
For Jesus, there are three foundations of a family. And what are those?
First is common ideal. In the Gospel, Jesus pointed out to His disciples that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is His family. The disciples have their own attitude, their own idiosyncrasies, their own temperament. Ang sabi nga ng mga Bible scholars, kung sila-sila lang, sila ay mag-aaway-away at pwedeng magpatayan. But the disciples are bonded because they wanted to follow Jesus. That is the first reminder to us. Saan mang pamilya, anumang lugar, anumang organisasyon o simbahan, dapat naroroon 'yong common ideal which will unify the community. Pag nawala na 'yong common ideal, kanya-kanya na 'yan. Sa ating lipunan, ipanalangin natin na 'yong common ideal ng bawat pamilya, ng bawat simbahan at bawat pamayanan, ay walang iba kundi ang masundan si Kristo.
The second one is common experience. Minsan may mga pagkakataon na mas kilala ka pa ng ibang tao kaysa sa sarili mong pamilya. Noong isang araw nga, kausap ko ang isa kong kaibigan, ang sabi niya sa akin 'yong Tatay niya, noong siya ay nasa highschool, talagang napakahigpit. Kaya close na close daw siya sa kanyang mga kaklase, kaysa sa Tatay niya, kaya mas marami pang alam ang mga kaklase niya tungkol sa kanya, kaysa sa kanyang sariling Tatay. Kaya kapag sila raw ay nagre-reunion, 'yon ang kanilang palaging binabalikan, that common experience.
Siguro ito ang ikalawang hamon sa atin. When we look at Jesus's disciples, ang kanilang ipinapangaral ay hindi lamang 'yong itinuro sa kanila ni Kristo, kundi ibinabahagi din nila sa mga tao ang kanilang common experience with Christ. Kailan sila kumain kasama ni Kristo. Kailan sila nagpagaling ng mga maysakit kasama si Kristo. Ang common experience ang ating panghahawakan sa buhay. A while ago, I was talking to a contractor in our seminary, who is a father of a family. Sabi niya, kapag Linggo daw ay busy siya. Kasi daw tuwing umaga - siya ay taga-Cavite - siya ay tumutulong sa pagbibigay ng Holy Communion sa mga nagsisimba at sa mga malalayong lugar. And then in the afternoon, he also serves as a lector in their parish. Kaya kinausap niya ang kanyang pamilya at sinabi niya sa kanila na dahil sa araw ng Linggo ay medyo abala siya, 'yong Sabado ang kanilang gagawing family bonding day. Sinabi niya sa akin na kailangan talagang maglaan ka ng panahon para makasama mo ang pamilya mo, kung ito ay mahalaga para sa iyo. Noong isang araw po ay nagpunta ako sa isang lamay sa isang parokya sa Navotas. Namatay 'yong Tatay ng isa kong kaibigan doon. I know the whole family. The daughter told me that she will miss the times when she and her father will have breakfast together, and spend quality time with each other. That is common. experience that binds us together. And it is a good reminder for us. In spite of our busy lives, what our family will remember is not whatever material things we have given to them, but how, through us, they have experienced quality bonding moments, how they experienced love and joy. Mawawala ang maraming bagay, kayamanan, katalinuhan, pero ang maa-alala ng ating pamilya at mahal sa buhay ay ang mga magagandang karanasan na iiwanan natin sa kanila.
The third one is common obedience. In the Gospel, Jesus says that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is His brother, His sister and mother. Ito ay paala-ala sa mga Hudyo noong mga panahong iyon. Why? It is because the Jews always take pride in saying that they are the children of Abraham. At dahil si Abraham ang kanilang ama, mayroon silang kaligtasan. Pero ang sinasabi ni Hesus, hindi lahat ng tumatawag ng 'Panginoon, Panginoon' ay maliligtas. It is not just saying, but doing. If we are willing to do the will of God, we are united with God's family. Sa isang pamilya, kung ang bawat isa ay handang sumunod sa kautusan ng Diyos at sa kautusan sa pamilya, magkakaroon ng ayos, nang magandang ugnayan, ng tagumpay ang pangarap ng mga magulang para sa kanilang mga anak.
We cannot choose our family. When we remember our family, do we see it as a blessing from God or do we sometimes feel that we are stuck with our own family? Jesus is reminding us of these three things, to consider that our family is real and encouraging - common ideal, common experience, and common obedience.
