Gospel Reflection

October 14, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Prudencio 'Jun' T. Solomon, Jr., Parochial Vicar, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Sampaloc, Manila
12:15PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

Reading 1 Rom 1:1-7

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God, which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, the Gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh, but established as Son of God in power  according to the Spirit of holiness  through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father  and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1bcde, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

Gospel Lk 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment  the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation  and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

HOMILY

"This generation is an evil generation." Napakasama ng lahing ito.

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, matalim at masakit ang mga pananalita ni Hesus sa ating Ebanghelyo, sapagkat napansin Niya na ang mga tao ay naghahanap ng palatandaan.

Ano ang palatandaan? Ang palatandaan ay isang pagpapatunay. Sa madaling salita, ito ay isang pruweba, isang ebidensiya na nagsasabi na ang isang bagay ay totoo at tunay.

Palatandaan. Maaaring nakakapagbigay si Hesus ng palatandaan sa mga tao. Pero bakit Niya sinabing 'napakasama ng lahing ito'? Napakasama sapagkat mga kapatid, ang lahing ito ay hindi marunong maniwala. Matigas ang kanilang puso, matigas ang kanilang kalooban, at kahit na anong palatandaan ang ibigay ay hindi makasasapat sa isang taong hindi marunong magbago, hindi marunong maniwala, hindi marunong magbalik-loob.

Uulitin ko mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, walang palatandaan ang makasasapat sa isang taong sarado. Walang palatandaan ang makahuhusto sa isang taong sarado ang isipan, sarado ang kalooban, sarado ang puso. Walang palatandaan ang makasasapat sa mga taong ayaw magbago, maniwala at magbalik-loob.

Mga kapatid, mga kaibigan, naghahanap pa ba tayo ng palatandaan? Sa ating panahon ngayon, maraming palatandaan. Ang ating munting pagsasama-sama't pagsasalu-salo sa Banal na Eukaristiya ay isa nang palatandaan. Ang Eukaristiyang mismong ating natatanggap ay isang palatandaan din. Ang lahat sa ating paligid ay mga palatandaan ng Diyos.

Inuulit ko, sa isang taong sarado, sa isang taong hindi marunong magbago, maniwala at magbalik-loob, walang palatandaan ang makasasapat.