The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the
party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles
and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened
the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the
temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” When they heard
this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high
priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate
of the children of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. But
the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back
and reported, “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed
outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” When the
captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were
at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and
reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and
are teaching the people.” Then the captain and the court officers went and
brought them, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by
the people.
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so
that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be
condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he
has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the
verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to
light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates
the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be
exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may
be clearly seen as done in God.
HOMILY
My
dear brothers and sisters, what a beautiful Gospel. Everything is said in the
first two verses of this Gospel. God so loved the world that He gave His
Only-Begotten Son, and He sent His Son, not to condemn the world, but to redeem
it.
My dear
brothers and sisters, this is the declaration of the love of our God. If we can
meditate on these words with an open heart, we can taste in these few words the
gravity of the love of our God. We can taste God's love that is pure, that is
true, without counting anything back. And this is unbelievable.
Our God
is a God of love. Common words? I don't think so. Think about it. I think this
is the nature of our God. And this is His extraordinary nature. Amen.
by Rev. Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan (Head, Youth Ministry, San Carlos Seminary)6:30AM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)
Reading 1 Gn 1:1-19
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Thus evening came, and morning followed–the first day.
Then God said, “Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body of water from the other.” And so it happened: God made the dome, and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it. God called the dome “the sky.” Evening came, and morning followed–the second day.
Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear.” And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land “the earth,” and the basin of the water he called “the sea.” God saw how good it was. Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it.” And so it happened: the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed–the third day.
Then God said: “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years, and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth.” And so it happened: God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night; and he made the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed–the fourth day.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10 and 12, 24 and 35c
R. (31b) May the Lord be glad in his works. Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak. R. May the Lord be glad in his works. You fixed the earth upon its foundation, not to be moved forever; With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it; above the mountains the waters stood. R. May the Lord be glad in his works. You send forth springs into the watercourses that wind among the mountains. Beside them the birds of heaven dwell; from among the branches they send forth their song. R. May the Lord be glad in his works. How manifold are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you have wrought them all— the earth is full of your creatures; Bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia. R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
Gospel Mk 6:53-56
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
HOMILY
"Ang lahat ng nakahipo nito ay gumaling." 100% cure. 0% failure. Lahat ng nakahipo ng laylayan ng kasuotan ni Hesus o palawit ng Kanyang kasuotan ay gumaling.
Alam n'yo po mga kapatid, kung titignan po natin, napakaganda po ng kasaysayan ng Our Lady of Lourdes. Alam naman po natin, si Bernadette, noong latter part ng 1800's, nangyari ang tagpo kung saan ang Mahal na Ina ay nagpakita kay Bernadette, pagkatapos na maiwan siya ng kanyang mga kaibigan doon sa may tabi ng ilog Gave, na kung saan ay meron ding malapit na kuweba na ang tawag ay Massabielle. At habang siya ay naiwan sa kabundukan o kabukiran na iyon ay bigla na lamang nagpakita ang isang babaeng puting-puti ang kasuotan, na mayroong kulay asul na sinturon.
At naglaon, nagsalita ang babaeng iyon. Naalala n'yo ba kung ano ang sinabi ng babaeng nagpakita kay Bernadette? Una, nagpakilala siya at ano ang sabi? "Ako ang Immaculada Concepcion". "I am the Immaculate Conception." In French?....Saka na lang po, ano? Assignment n'yo 'yon. Di ko po alam eh. (laughs)
Mayroon pa pong sinabi ang babae. Ano po ang sinabi niyang pangalawa? Naaalala ninyo? Sa lugar na iyon na pinagpakitaan ng Mahal na Immaculada Concepcion ay magtatayo ng simbahan o kapilya.
Kung titignan po natin, I think more than the revelation of the name of the Blessed Mother as Immaculate Conception, are the very important words of our Lady, and that is to build a church at that place where she appeared. Makikita po natin sa puntong ito ang kahalagahan o ang papel ni Maria sa atin.
Ang tunay na deboto ni Maria ay malapit sa Eukaristiya. There is no such an authentic devotee of the Blessed Mother who has no love for the Eucharist. It's always that way. Ang tunay na nagmamahal, namimintuho sa Ina, sa kung anumang titulo ang ibinigay natin sa kanya....ang lahat ng pagpapakita, pagpapahayag at pangungusap ng Mahal na Ina...lagi itong naglalapit ng mga taong nakakakita sa kanya o nakakarinig sa kanya, sa Kanyang anak na nasa Eukaristiya. That's the mark of a true Marian devotee.
No wonder itong kapilyang ito ng Shrine ay nailagay po dito noong 1986 po ba? Sorry po, hindi ko pa po kasi alam 'yon eh 'no. Bata pa po kasi ako noon eh. (laughs) But imagine a celebration of Mary during those days. Later on, this Church was built. It's always that way. Ang tunay na nagmamahal kay Maria ay malapit sa Eukaristiya. Ang ibig sabihin po ay ang tunay na nagdarasal ng rosaryo ay nalalapit sa misa. Hindi isinasabay ang rosaryo sa misa. Hindi po ganoon. Pwedeng bago po magmisa ay mag-rosaryo, but we do not pray the rosary while celebrating the Eucharist.
It is really ironic. Minsan may mga nakikita tayong may mga rosary sa pocket, sa wallet ay may picture ng Our Lady of Peace or the Perpetual Help, tapos hanggang doon lang ang kanyang faith. Hanggang wallet lang, hanggang rosary lang. Dapat ang may-ari noon, nakikita din niya ang kanyang sarili sa loob ng simbahan, at kasamang nakikilahok sa pagdiriwang ng banal na misa.
A second point that I would probably like to share for all of us to reflect on, ay 'yon pong pangyayari na nahawakan lang 'yong laylayan ng kasuotan ni Hesus, ay gumagaling 'yong mga tao. Mga kapatid, ito po ang punto dito. One of the main reasons why Mama Mary would want us to receive the Eucharist...that Mama Mary would want all of us to be close to the Eucharist, is simply because in the mass, hindi lang po natin hinahawakan ang laylayan ng kasuotan ni Hesus. Bakit? Ano po ba ang nangyayari sa misa? Sa misa, tinatanggap natin - hindi ang damit, hindi ang laylayan ng kasuotan ng Panginoon - kundi ang tinatanggap natin mismo sa ating katawan ay walang iba kundi ang Katawan at Dugo ng Panginoon. Saan ka pa, ika nga. Saan ka pa.
Kaya nga po kung sinasabi sa Ebanghelyo na ang lahat ng humahawak ay gumagaling, ako po ay naniniwala - matibay ang aking paniniwala - na sa mga tao na tumatanggap sa Eukaristiya, doble-doble o makailang ulit pa ang kagalingan na sumasakanya. Sa mga taong tumatanggap sa Eukaristiya, natatanggap niya ang kagalingan, di lamang sa pisikal, kundi pati sa kalooban.
Mga kapatid, tayo ay humawak kay Maria na nagpakita sa Lourdes, Pransiya. Hawakan natin ang kamay ni Maria sapagkat siguradong dadalhin niya tayo papalit sa kanyang anak na si Hesus. Papalapit sa Eukaristiya, upang tayo ay magtamo ng kagalingan. You may also want to see: The Song of Bernadette (1945) - Our Lady of Lourdes Story
by Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo,
D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, Sto. Nino Parish, Tondo, Manila
12:15PM Mass, Shrine of Our Lady
Queen of Peace (EDSA Shrine)
Reading 1 Is 6:1-2a, 3-8
In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a
high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple.
Seraphim were stationed above. They cried one to the other, “Holy, holy, holy
is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” At the sound of
that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.
Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living
among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of
hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember that he had taken
with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it, and said, “See, now that
this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” Then
I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here
I am,” I said; “send me!”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8
R. (1c) In the sight of the angels I will sing your
praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD:
“Great is the glory of the LORD.”
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Reading 2 1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel I
preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through
it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless
you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also
received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that
he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he
appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, Christ appeared to more than
five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have
fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last
of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the
apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been
ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but
the grace of God that is with me. Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we
preach and so you believed.
Gospel Lk 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to
the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats
there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their
nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him
to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the
crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put
out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master,
we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I
will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of
fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other
boat to come to help them.They came and
filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter
saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I
am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized
him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on
you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they
left everything and followed him.
HOMILY
Our God is a powerful God. Nothing
is impossible to Him. And we also know that God wills all men to be saved.
Therefore, God can do the work of salvation by Himself. But according to His
will, kahit sa Kanyang pamamaraan, He wants that we, poor human beings, will
participate in the work of salvation. Hindi Niya po ginawa ang lahat. Gusto
Niyang ibahagi sa ating mga tao ang kaligtasan. Kaya sa simula't simula pa,
tumatawag po Siya ng mga tao upang maging instrumento ng kaligtasan.
'Yon po 'yong paksa ng ating mga
pagbasa ngayon. Sa Unang Pagbasa, narinig po natin ang pagtawag kay Isaias.
Noon, tinawag si Isaias sa pamamagitan ng isang pangitain sa templo. Marahil
'yon po ang funeral ng haring si Uzziah. Nandoon po si Isaias at doon ay nakita
niya sa templo ang kadakilaan, ang kaluwalhatian ng Diyos. Kaya't nasabi niya
sa kanyang sarili, "Panginoon, hindi ako karapat-dapat. Ako'y isang taong
may maduming lahi."
Ganoon din po, tinawag ng Panginoon
si Pablo. Sinabi ni Pablo na on the day of the Resurrection, nagpakita si Hesus
kay Simon. Nagpakita si Hesus sa limang daan. Nagpakita si Hesus sa
labindalawa, kay San Tiago, at sa bandang huli, nagpakita Siya kay Pablo noong
si Pablo ay umuusig pa sa simbahan. Papunta siya sa Damascus upang maghanap ng
mga Kristiyano na kanyang ipabibilanggo. Doon siya patungo nang magpakita ang
Panginoon sa kanya.
Ganoon din po sa ating Ebanghelyo -
ang pagtawag naman kay Pedro. At dito naman nabigla si Pedro sa nangyari. Hindi
niya inaasahan na siya, na isang propesiyonal na mangingisda na lumaki sa lawa,
ay hindi sila nakahuli ng isda nang buong gabi, ngunit sa araw na iyon, ang
Panginoon ay nagbigay ng napakaraming huli, na halos malubog ang kanilang mga
bangka.
Tingnan po natin ang tatlong pagtawag
sa iba't ibang paraan. Ang isa sa isang funeral, ang isa ay sa kanyang
pag-uusig habang naglalakbay, at ang isa sa kanyang pagtatrabaho bilang
mangingisda. But their reactions were the same. Nang makita nila ang pagkilos
ng Diyos sa pagtawag sa kanila, they saw that they were not worthy. Kaya nga
sinabi ni Isaias, "Sa lahat ng kabanalan ng Diyos, ako'y madumi."
Kaya sinabi ni Pablo na hindi siya karapat-dapat sapagkat siya ay nag-uusig sa
simbahan. Kaya sinabi ni Pedro, "Lord, go away from me, I am a sinful
man."
Pero kahit gano'n, tinawag sila, at
maganda rin ang kanilang sagot. All of them wholeheartedly, generously laid
themselves. For the prophet Isaiah, when the angel of the Lord said, "Whom
shall I send?" Isaiah said, "Lord, here I am, send me." St. Paul
was saying, "Though I am the least of the Apostles, I strive all the more.
I work harder than the rest, because of the grace of God that was given to
me." And we know the labors of Paul, traveling and passing through
different countries - from Israel, to Syria, to Asia Minor, to Greece, even to
Rome, proclaiming the Good News. In the end, he was beheaded for the Good News.
That was also the response of Peter. When they got to the shore, he left
everything and followed the Lord, when the Lord invited him that from that day,
he will be a fisher of man.
Mga kapatid, hindi lamang po si
Isaias, si Pedro at si Pablo ang tinawag ng Panginoon. Lahat ng mga binyagan
ay tinatawag ng Diyos. Ang binyag po, para sa atin, ay hindi lamang paglinis ng
kasalanan. Ang binyag ay pagtawag ng Diyos, hindi lamang upang makatanggap ng
kaligtasan, ngunit upang tayo ay magbahagi ng kaligtasan sa iba. At 'yan po
siguro ang madalas nating makalimutan. We are so concerned about our salvation,
that we don't see the call for us to also share this salvation to others. We
cannot receive the Good News without sharing it, as the Good News is for all of
us. Kaya't bilang binyagan, tayo ay tinatawag din na magbahagi.
And we should not say, "Hindi
ako handa. Hindi ko alam 'yan. Ordinaryong mamamayan lang ako, ordinaryong
Kristiyano lang ako. Hindi naman ako nag-aral." 'Yan din ang dinahilan ng
mga tinawag ng Diyos. "Ako'y makasalanan, ako'y mangingisda lang...ako'y
bata pa..." But then, hopefully we can respond with generosity, as these
three people did. Sana'y maibigay natin ang ating sarili. Because God who
called us, will enable us to answer the call, if He finds that there is this
generosity, there is this capacity to give ourselves to Him. Siya na po ang
bahala sa atin.
Hindi ba sinabi ni Hesus,
"Darating ang panahon na kayo'y uusigin. Dadalhin kayo sa harap ng mga
hari, sa harap ng mga hukom. Ngunit huwag kayong mag-alala kung ano'ng isasagot
n'yo. Ibibigay sa inyo ang Espiritu, at makakasagot kayo nang hindi mismo nila
matutugunan ang inyong sagot, dahil sa iyan ay galing sa Banal na
Espiritu." At 'yan po ay makikita natin sa kasaysayan ng Simbahan. Simple
people, but with great generosity, were able to do great things. Not because
they were capable, but because they were generous.
Mga kapatid, tayo po ay tinatawagan
din. Ano kaya ang ating tugon? Sa
mga tawag ay napakarami po. Alam po natin, kahit saan po tayo magsimba,
napakaraming mga announcements. Nangangailangan ng choir member.
Nangangailangan ng CWL. Nagtatawag ang Legion of Mary. Kailangan natin ng
tagabasa. Kailangan natin ng volunteer na tutulong sa mga feeding programs.
Napakaraming panawagan. Iilan lamang po ang tumutugon.
Ngayon po ay ipinagdiriwang natin sa
misang ito, at tayo po ay nakiki-isa, sa grupo ng San Igidio community, na kung
sakaling hindi ninyo alam, ay nagmi-meeting dito sa EDSA Shrine tuwing Thursday
nang gabi. Ito po ay bagong community, kaya't ipinagdiriwang lamang nila ang
kanilang 45th anniversary. Nagsimula po sila noong 1968 sa Roma, ngunit ngayon
ay kalat na sa maraming mga cities. At ano ang ginagawa nila? Marami po, ngunit
tatlong bagay lamang ang pinaka-poste ng kanilang gawain. Sila'y nagtitipon,
nagsasama upang magdasal. Sila'y nagsasama upang makinig sa Salita ng Diyos.
Sila'y nagsasama upang tumulong sa mga mahihirap. So, this community, that is
celebrating now, is then another gift of the Holy Spirit in the Church. It is
another venue of service, na pwede nating gawin.
Ngayon pong Miyerkules ay simula na
ng bagong panahon ng Simbahan, ang Kuwaresma. Kaya pupunta na naman tayo sa
simbahan para tumanggap ng abo. Lent is a time of encouragement to
generosity. That we may be generous with our prayers and sacrifices, not only
for ourselves, but also for the world. That we may be generous in our
talents and services. That we may be generous in praying. That is why we have
many prayers during Lent. Nandiyan ang pagbabasa ng Pasyon, Way of the Cross,
at iba't iba pa pong prayers natin. Lent is another moment, another
invitation of the Lord. Every season in the Church is an invitation for greater
service for the work of salvation.
Kaya mga kapatid, sa paksa natin
ngayon, ay hindi sapat na atin lamang alamin ang nangyari kay Isaias, kay Pablo
at kay Pedro. 'Yan ay mga examples lang, kung paano tinatawag ng Diyos ang mga
tao para sa gawain ng kaligtasan. At kasama po tayo roon. At dito po sinasabi
sa atin na ang Diyos ay nagtatawag sa iba't ibang klaseng mga tao, sa lahat ng
tao sa kanilang kalagayan sa buhay. At sana naman, tulad ni Isaias, ni Pablo at
ni Pedro, mayroon din tayong generosity na tumulong at maglingkod.
Tuwing tayo po ay nagsisimba,
ipinagdiriwang po natin ang pagtugon ni Hesus sa Kanyang misyon - ang pagtugon
Niya nang buong buo - so much so that He gave His body and blood, that we may
have salvation. May this memorial of the generous love of Jesus also incite us
to follow His generosity in our own call from the Lord. That is why we need to
be more sensitive to the Lord calling us, because He does calls us. And when we
hear His call, let us follow what Isaiah said. 'Here am I, Lord. Send me."
