Gospel Reflection

January 23, 2014

Thursday – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Benjo Fajota, Vice Rector, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)
5:30 PM Mass at the EDSA Shrine

 

Reading 1 1 sm 18:6-9;19:1-7

When David and Saul approached (on David’s return after slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums. The women played and sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: “They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me. All that remains for him is the kingship.” And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David  with his son Jonathan and with all his servants. But Saul’s son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him: “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning;  get out of sight and remain in hiding. I, however, will go out and stand beside my father  in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I will let you know.”

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him: “Let not your majesty sin against his servant David, for he has committed no offense against you,  but has helped you very much by his deeds. When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine,  and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel through him,  you were glad to see it. Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood  by killing David without cause?” Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.” So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him. Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

 

Gospel mk 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

HOMILY

The Catholic Encyclopedia Dictionary defines 'jealousy' as an "intolerance often accompanied by emotional disturbance of wanting to have someone or something owned by another person to be exclusively for his own". Kung ano ang meron ang isa, ang gusto niya, siya lamang ang meron noon. That is why when King Saul saw that David has become popular, he became jealous of David.

Similarly, in our Gospel. we heard that people from all places would go and search for Jesus. He became more and more popular each day. The Word of God is no longer temple-based, but already Kingdom-based, as it is preached by Jesus Christ. Even from the Catholic city of Jerusalem, people were flocking to Jesus, trying to know who He was. This turned the ire of the church elders and leaders, and so they wanted to plot against Him and get rid of Him.

In our lives, people will get angry at us, will be suspicious of us, or will be jealous of us, because of our popularity, or something that we have, that others would also want to have exclusively for their own. And this is the cause of disunity. Jesus Christ came into this world to form us as one family, not only treating others with respect and dignity, but rather with joyous acceptance of who they are.

There is this story of a woman from Trinidad who would always have her daily ritual with her daughter. At night, before she would retire, she would prepare lunch for her daughter for the following day. Then they will have simple breakfast together. Before the mother goes, she would hug her daughter and whisper to her ear, "I will miss you, I love you." And when her daughter is already by the door, the mother will call her and say, "Wait, I still have to look how beautiful you are. You are such a beauty to behold." This would carry on every day. And the daughter will go to school, very happy and confident.

This is what Jesus Christ wants to tell us. "Come to Me...Come to Me in prayer. Come to Me, present yourselves, not only when there are serious things happening in your life. Come to Me in your light moments. Talk to Me in a friendly way....in a light-hearted way." Prayer need not be serious and profound every time. It could be just a silent time with a friend, or just an easy conversation with someone. Jesus would always like to have that conversation with us. Come to Him today. Come to Him and present yourself, and let Jesus behold the beauty that you have inside and outside of you. Let Him be taken by your beauty, which He has created in us all.

Kung tayo ay may pagmamahal sa ating kapwa, hindi tayo maiinggit kung ano ang meron sila. Dahil ang bawat isa sa atin ay binigyan ng Diyos ng katangian na para lamang sa atin. Amen.