Gospel Reflection

July 26, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Rev. Fr. Jomar Burgos, LRMS - Dean of Seminarians and Vocation Director, Lorenzo Mission Institute
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Megamall Chapel)

 

FIRST READING          Ecclesiasticus 44:1, 10-15

Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time: These were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten; Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants; Through God's covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake. And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out; Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on. At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM          Ps 132:11, 13-14, 17-18

R.(13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
The LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for his dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David;
I will place a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
but upon him my crown shall shine.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.


GOSPEL READING           Matthew 13:16-17

Jesus said to his disciples, "Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it".

HOMILY

If you notice, our Gospel has only two verses - it is very short. And in the first sentence of the Gospel, Jesus gave a message to His disciples. He said, "Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." Here, we may ask, is Jesus saying that we are blessed because we have eyes that see and ears that could hear? We all know that there are people who would have eyes, but unfortunately, they are physically blind, and could not see. And there are also people who have ears, but unfortunately, they are physically deaf, and could not hear. So is Jesus telling us na maswerte tayo dahil ang mata natin ay nakakakita at ang ating tenga ay nakakarinig?

Perhaps, it is not only that, that Jesus wants to tell us. Because it is a reality that people have eyes but it seems that they could not see. And there are also times when people have ears, but still they could not hear.

An example. If you have an enemy. Kung meron ho tayong kaaway at dumaan siya sa harap natin, pinapansin po ba natin siya? Minsan po ay parang wala tayong nakikita. Nilalampasan lang natin sila, kahit gaano pa kalaki 'yan. Wala tayong nakikita. Why? Because sometimes, we could see, but we could not really see well. Sometimes, our eyes and ears are becoming selective. Para po tayong namimili nang gusto lang nating makita o marinig. For example, kung ang isang tao ay may utang sa inyo, lalapit sa inyo at hihingi ng extension para mabayaran ang utang, kahit anong pakiusap o luhod ang gawin niya, kung ayaw nating makinig, wala rin pong mangyayari at hindi rin po tayo makapagbibigay ng extension. We are being selective. It's like we have filters in our eyes and ears.

Today, the Lord tells us that we have to learn how to see the presence and hear the needs of the people around us, specifically our parents and grandparents. And why do we say that? It is because today, we celebrate the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. And who are they? They are the parents of Mother Mary, and they are the grandparents of Jesus. Not much is known about them. Their names are not even written in the Bible, kaya hindi natin sila masyadong kilala. But we all know, based on the life of Mary, that they are good and righteous people. Kung ano po si Mary, 'yan po ang pagpapatunay kung paano siya pinalaki at kung anong klase ang kanyang magulang. Sometimes, if you want to know a person or what kind of parents a child has, makikita natin 'yan sa kanyang buhay, sa kanyang manners, kung paano siya pinalaki ng kanyang mga magulang.

Today, we are also called to really see the value and dignity of our parents and grandparents. We are reminded to hear and feel their presence in our lives. We must admit that we owe a lot to our parents and grandparents. When we were babies, kahit gaano kahimbing ang tulog ng ating mga parents, makarinig lang sila ng kaunting ingit sa atin, konting kilos, konting iyak, babangon po sila para tingnan tayo. Pero kahit na gaano kalakas ang tunog ng truck, wala silang pakialam, hindi sila nagigising diyan. Ngunit sa atin, dahil importante tayo sa kanila, konting kilos ay nagigising sila.

If I were to dictate a Grandparents' Day or a Parents' Day, it should be today. Ang nakakalungkot po, when we are already grown up, parang wala na tayong nakikita. Sometimes we do not even say 'hello' or 'how are you' to our parents and grandparents. Today, let's find time to thank our parents and grandparents. Kung wala po sila, malamang, wala rin po tayo ngayon. Now that we are old enough, let us show our love to our parents and grandparents. Let us respect them, let us appreciate them, especially for the love and support that they have given to us. Just like Mary and Joseph, may we be good children to our parents. Amen.