Gospel Reflection

August 10, 2012

Friday

St. Lawrence, Deacon, Martyr (Feast)

by Msgr. Bong Lo

Megamall

First Reading:               2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Psalm:                         Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9

Gospel:                        John 12:24-26  

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.

HOMILY

Father Bong emphasized on both the Reading (being a cheerful giver) and the Gospel (“Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”)

Msgr. Said that as God dies for us, we must also die to ourselves – die to our childishness, die to our desires and vices, our selfishness/self-centeredness, in order to reach our full potential as Christians, in order for us to have a full life, in order for us to be happy. It is through our sacrifice that we are able to give graciously and nourish and strengthen one another, as Christ has done for us.

 

 

St. Lawrence the Deacon – Pray for us

Gospel Reflection

August 09, 2012

Thursday

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr (Optional Memorial)

by Rev. Fr. Jun Sescon

Greenbelt

First Reading:               Jeremiah 31:31-34

Psalm:                         Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19

Gospel:                        Matthew 16:13-23         

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." 23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."

HOMILY

St, Teresa de Benedicta is a very intelligent Jew and Atheist who was converted into Catholic faith. According to Father Jun, no one is intelligent enough not to believe in God. The faithful strength and service of St. Teresa de Benedicta despite challenges ang dapat nating maging attitude in these trying times.

Father the said that like St. Peter in the Gospel who discovered who Christ really is, let us purify and discover the real image of God for us.

Who do you say God is?

The God we believe in is a God of love, a God of compassion and understanding, a God of strength and peace. Just like St. Teresa de Benedicta and St. Peter, this is how they saw God, thus they remained faithful and strong despite all difficulties.

And this, said Father Jun, is our treasure as Filipinos – our faith in God. Why do Filipinos survive? Bakit nakangiti pa din tayo kahit ang dami nating bagyo sa buhay? It is because of our image of God.

Our God is our strength. We move on with God as our refuge, our hope. This has made us strong despite the physical and moral struggles that happen to us. We pray that no law or bill, or anything remove that faith from us.

Father Jun ended with a prayer:

“Lord, help us to purify our image of you as our God of peace, our God of strength, our God of Love. Strengthen our faith, especially during these difficult times. May our belief in You propel us to help others, and that our charity may be the consolation of our brothers and sisters. Lord, you are more powerful than any on earth. Be with us always, AMEN”.

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Pray for us

Gospel Reflection

August 06, 2012

Monday

The Transfiguration of the Lord (Feast)

By Msgr. Bong Lo

Megamall

First Reading:                Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Psalm:                          Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9

Second Reading:           2 Peter 1:16-19

Gospel:                         Mark 9:2-10      

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, 3 and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Eli'jah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." 8 And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

HOMILY

Despite the struggles, isabuhay natin ang faith and love natin kay God. Let us pray for God’s guidance that step by step and through good works, we may be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ who revealed the glory of His divinity at the Transfiguration.

Gospel Reflection

August 05, 2012

Sunday

(Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

By Rev. Fr Lito Ignacio

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:              Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15

Psalm:                        Psalm 78:3-4, 23-25, 54

Second Reading:          Ephesians 4:17, 20-24

Gospel:                        John 6:24-35    

24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" 32 Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

HOMILY

In his homily today, Father Lito still focused on the fight against RH Bill. He advises us to continue to pray for the protection of innocent lives, especially the unborn babies.

Gospel Reflection

August 04, 2012

Saturday

by Rev. Fr Lito Ignacio

Edsa Shrine ( Prayer Rally for NO to RH Bill )

First Reading:               Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24

Psalm:                         Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34

Gospel:                        Matthew 14:1-12           

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; 2 and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; 4 because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Hero'di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." 9 And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; 10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

HOMILY

We should believe in the miracle of prayer, the miracle of life, the miracle of love. Let us not allow the evil one to destroy life, to destroy morality.

(Father Lito is quite emotional during his homily, because kawawa naman ang life in the womb, mga unborn babies at mga mommies pag naipasa ang RH Bill.)

He said that:

the fruit of silence is prayer.

The fruit of prayer is faith.

The fruit of faith is love.

The fruit of love is service, and

The fruit of service is peace.

He urges us to be united in prayer and to fight the evil one through prayer.

And that would be our weapon and shield for the fight.

Gospel Reflection

August 04, 2012

First Saturday

St. John Mary Vianney, Priest (Memorial)

By Rev. Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24

Psalm:                         Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34

Gospel:                        Matthew 14:1-12           

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; 2 and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; 4 because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Hero'di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." 9 And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; 10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

HOMILY

Like Herod, sometimes we make ourselves the priority – the center of our lives. This is the exact opposite of God’s teaching. We should love God’s teaching. We should love God and make Him the center of our lives. And to love God is to offer one’s life for the good of others. 

 

Gospel Reflection

August 03, 2012

First Friday

Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart

by Rev. Fr. Joey Faller (Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center Quezon Province)

Megamall

First Reading:               Jeremiah 26:1-9

Psalm:                         Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14

Gospel:                        Matthew 13:54-58         

54 and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

HOMILY

Father Joey said, just like the Gospel, Jesus cannot perform His miracle on us if we lack faith and a lively trust in Him. Sabi niya nagpunta siya sa US at naawa siya kasi he can see that the people there have lost faith and are depressed. They are losing jobs and their homes, and that now they are hungry for God’s word. It is only through faith in God that we can be healed, not only our bodies, but our heart and soul.

Gospel Reflection

August 02, 2012

Thursday

Our Lady of the Angels of Portiuncula (Solemnity)

First Reading:               Sirach 24:1-4, 16, 22-24

Psalm:                         Psalm 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19

Second Reading           Galatians 4:3-7

Gospel:                        Luke 1:26-33    

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Matthew 13:47-53
Megamall

The Parable of the Dragnet

[Jesus said to his disciples,] 47“The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. 48When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. 49Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
51“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” 52And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” 53When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

HOMILY

As we continue on the series of parables in the Gospel, today talks about the Kingdom of God likened to a net (God’s word) throw into the sea (the Word) to catch all types of fish (good and bad people). In the end (Judgment Day), the net is hauled on the shore and the good fish are separated from the bad.

He said that the good and bad alike exist in the world and even in the Church. Saints and sinners live together. Even the good becomes bad when we fall into sin. But God, as our loving and merciful ‘potter’ will never give up on us and will continue to mold us into the image of His Son, Jesus.

We should then be docile and should not resist God when He forms us into a good Christian and follower. Let us pray that our hearts may be open to His ‘molding’, so that in the final hauling, we may be co-heirs in God’s kingdom and enjoy eternal life and happiness with God.

Gospel Reflection

August 01, 2012

Wednesday

St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

by Rev. Fr. Caloy Reyes

Greenbelt

First Reading:               Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

Psalm:                         Psalm 59:2-4, 10-11, 17-18

Gospel:                        Matthew 13:44-46         

44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

HOMILY

The Gospel today is about the parable of the Kingdom of God likened to a man discovering a treasure that sells everything he has to buy it. "Ano ba ang hinahanap nating treasure?” The greatest treasure is God’s intimate love – knowing that God loves us, no matter who we are this treasure is our source of joy – without God’s love, life is miserable.

You may have all that you have dreamed about – a good job, a car, a big house, a family, but after these, what’s next? Will these things bring you real happiness? Without God’s love, life will always be empty. Let us pray for the grace to feed on God’s love that we may find true and everlasting joy.