Gospel Reflection

November 11, 2012

Year of Faith

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Benjo Fajota (Vice Rector of the EDSA Shrine)

Lunch Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

Reading 1 1 Kgs 17:10-16

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread." She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Heb 9:24-28

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Gospel Mk 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

or Mk 12:41-44

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

HOMILY

Wala ka ngang ginagawang masama, ano naman ang ginagawa mo sa kaawa-awa?

Narinig natin sa Ebanghelyo kung papaano tayo binigyan ng babala ni Hesus. Sinabi ni Hesus na huwag tayong tumulad sa mga taga-Escriba na gustong magsuot ng mahahabang damit katulad po ng suot ko ngayon, at tila ang nais lamang nila ay sila ay papurihan at parangalan. At ang binigyan Niya ng papuri ay hindi ang taong nagbigay ng malaking halaga kundi 'yong isang balong babae na isang kusing lamang 'yong kanyang binigay, ngunit ito ang lahat lahat nang mayroon siya. She gave everything. From her poverty, she gave all that she had. Kaya mas maganda at mas mainam ang ganitong pagbibigay, hindi 'yong pagbibigay nang kung ano lamang 'yong sobra sa atin, hindi lamang 'yong convenient sa atin, hindi lamang kung ano lang ang hindi natin kailangan.

 

When we talk about this theme, about money, a lot of people feel uncomfortable. And the wealthy among us, among you, will say "This is our money and we have the right to use whatever we want with our money. Aming pera ito na pinaghirapan namin, pinagpursigihan namin, kaya nararapat lamang na kung ano ang nais naming gawin sa aming pera ay magawa namin ito." Nakakalimutan natin na ang lahat ng biyaya ay galing sa Diyos, at tayo ay tagapangasiwa lamang. We are mere stewards of the wealth and the material blessings that we receive from God. And so we try to justify and rationalize for whatever purpose we use our money or properties.

Narinig din naman natin dati ang sinabi ni Hesus, sa ibang Ebanghelyo. Sinabi Niya, "Kung ano ang ginawa mo sa kaliit-liitan mong kapwa, ay ginawa mo sa Akin. At kung ano ang pinagkait mo sa kaliit-liitan mong kapwa, ay ipinagkait mo rin sa Akin. Sinabi Niya sa atin na ang landas patungo sa Kanyang Kaharian, ay ito lamang ang magiging pamantayan. "Pinakain mo ba ang nagugutom? Pinainom mo ba ang nauuhaw? Binigyan mo ba ng damit ang mga walang maisuot? At pinatuloy mo ba ang mga walang matirhan?"

Ang akala natin ang ating pagiging mapanampalataya, malapit sa Diyos, o ang ating ispiritualidad, ay nakadepende sa kung paano tayo magdasal. Ating sinusunod ang iba't ibang mga alituntunin ng ating Simbahan. Nakakalimutan natin na ang paggamit ng ating mga salapi at ari-arian ay mayroon ding sasabihin sa atin sa wakas ng panahon. One Jesuit Father and spiritual book writer said, "The one single, most reliable, most effective measure of our spirituality, that is how we stand before God, is the use of our money."

Mayroon pong isang babaeng taga-Bangladesh, na dinala ng kanyang amo sa US upang doon sa kanya maglingkod sa bahay niya sa US. Noong unang araw niya roon, nakita niya kung gaano kalaki ang bahay ng kanyang amo. Pagsilip niya sa bintana, may nakita siyang isang maliit na bahay at tinanong niya, "Sino ho ang nakatira diyan? Sino ho ang nagma-may-ari ng bahay na 'yan?" Natawa ang kanyang amo at ang sabi, "Hindi bahay 'yan. Garahe 'yan. Diyan namin inilalagay, ipina-park ang aming mga sasakyan." Iiling-iling ang babae at ang sabi, "Bahay para sa kotse?" Hindi niya lubos maisip, hindi niya lubos maunawaan na mayroong tahanan para sa mga sasakyan.

Huwag na tayong lumayo doon. Tignan na lang natin dito sa ating sariling bayan kung gaano karami ang naghihirap. A few years back, the Philippine Council for Investigative Journalism came out with a survey among the urban poor. Tinanong nila ang mga squatters sa Metro Manila kung ano ba ang mga kailangan nila sa kanilang buhay. Dahil sila ay mahihirap, inasahan ng mga nag-survey na una ang pagkain sa kanilang kailangan. Nagkamali sila. Unang una sa listahan ng mga kailangan ng ating mga mahihirap na kababayan ay isang disenteng trabaho para sa kanila. Ikalawa, edukasyon para sa kanilang mga anak. Ikatlo, disenteng tahanan. At ika-apat lamang ang pagkain.

Ano ang sinasabi ng survey na ito? Sinasabi lamang sa atin na ang ating mga kababayan ay nais ding mabigyan ng pagkakataong ituring na tunay na isang taong mayroong dangal at dignidad. They want to be respected and be counted as a contributor, a member of the society, with dignity and worth as a human person. Sinasabi din ho nila sa atin na huwag natin silang gamiting pang-dole out lang. Pag dumating ang eleksiyon, bibigyan natin sila nang kung anu-ano, para sabihin lamang na tinutulungan natin silang mahihirap. Kapag may sakuna o bagyo, binibigyan natin sila ng lata ng sardinas at noodles, tapos na. Paano na ang kanilang kinabukasan? Hindi ito sapat para sabihin nating tutulungan natin sila at mayroon tayong malasakit sa kanilang kapakanan.

Mga kapatid, sinasabi ng Ebanghelyo sa atin, huwag tayong maging maramot. Tularan natin ang isang mahirap na balo, na binigay nang buong-buo ang kung ano man ang mayroon siya, para lamang sa kapakanan ng kanyang kapwa. Dito natin maipapakita ang tunay na pag-ibig natin sa Diyos. Hindi sa pagdarasal lamang, hindi sa pagsunod lamang sa mga batas ng Simbahan, ngunit lalong lalo na, ang una sa lahat, ay ang magmahal ng kapwa.

Hindi nga tayo gumagawa nang masama, ano naman ang ginagawa natin sa kaawa-awa? Amen.

 

Gospel Reflection

November 10, 2012

Saturday – Year of Faith

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

by Rev. Fr. Paul Marquez (St. Paul Church and Seminary, Bagtikan Street, Makati)

Lunch Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

Reading 1 Phil 4:10-19

Brothers and sisters: I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, "a fragrant aroma," an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 112:1b-2, 5-6, 8a and 9

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Lk 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God."

HOMILY

Napakinggan po natin sa ating mga Pagbasa ang bahagi ng liham ni San Pablo sa mga taga-Filipos. Ang tawag sa mga sulat ni San Pablo sa mga taga-Filipos ay "letters of joy". Masaya si San Pablo sa mga taga-Filipos. Hindi dahil palagi siyang tinutulungan ng mga taga-Filipos, kundi lagi siyang naaalala. Mahal na mahal ni San Pablo ang mga taga-Filipos.

Ako po minsan ay nagpunta sa World Trade Center at doon po ay may bazaar at talk ukol sa negosyo. Doon po sa talk ay itinuro, di lamang kung paano maging 'smart' sa negosyo, kundi kung paano maging 'ethical' sa negosyo. Kinakailangang palaging nasa tama at matuwid ang iyong paggawa ng negosyo. At kapag ikaw ay nangako na magbabayad, kailangang nasa oras. Kapag may sinabi kang ide-deliver na ganoong quality, ganoon talaga ang ide-deliver mo. 

Ito ay maiuugnay natin sa sinabi ng ating Ebanghelyo ngayon na kung sino ang mapagkakatiwalaan sa maliit ay mapagkakatiwalaan sa mas malaki at higit pa - at ito ang kayamanan sa langit. Ito ay isang napakagandang paalala sa atin sa pang-araw araw nating mga gawain. Binigyan tayo ng Panginoon ng biyaya na kinakailangan nating gamitin sa wasto at pagyamanin.

Alam naman po natin na ang Panginoon ay hindi po tumingin sa pera. Ang mga taong nakapaligid sa Kanya, hindi Siya nakitaan ng salapi sa Kanyang bulsa. Ang Kanyang tiwala ay palaging nasa Diyos. Sinasabi sa atin ng Panginoon na matutong laging magtiwala sa Diyos at sa Kanyang mga biyaya. At ang mga biyayang iyan ay makikita natin sa mga taong nasa paligid natin. Ang unang-unang biyayang ibinigay sa atin ng Diyos ay ang ating pamilya, mga kaibigan at kasama sa trabaho at pamayanan. Hindi tayo maaring mabuhay nang nag-iisa, kaya't dapat tayong magkaroon ng kababaang-loob na tumanggap ng mga biyaya at magbahagi din ng ating mga biyaya sa ating kapwa. Habang tumutulong tayo ay dapat din tayong magpasalamat sa tinutulungan natin, sapagkat hindi lang sila ang nabe-bless kundi mas higit tayo. Ipinalangin nating tayo ay patuloy na biyayaan ng Diyos at tayo ay maging malinis na sisidlan ng Kanyang biyaya, sapagkat kung punong puno ang ating sisidlan at sinasarili lang natin, mabubulok ang biyaya ng Diyos.

Nakatutuwang ang biyaya at grasya ng Diyos ay umiikot at nagpapatuloy. Napakasayang maranasan ang biyaya ng Diyos sa maliit at malaking bagay. Sana po sa ating buhay ay makita natin kung paanong patuloy na kumikilos ang Diyos para sa atin, sa maliit at malaking bagay, mula noon hanggang ngayon. Sana maramdaman natin kung paanong ang kamay ng Diyos ay pilit tayong inaabot. Maging mapagpasalamat tayo palagi at manalanging tayo, tulad ng Diyos nang nabuhay Siya dito sa lupa, na makuntento tayo at gamitin nang wasto ang ating mga biyaya, lalong lalo na pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa ating kapwa, lalo na sa malilit at nahihirapan sa buhay.

 

 

Saint Leo the Great – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - Saint Leo the Great

A Holy Life

Saint Leo the Great

d. 461

Feast day – November 10

With apparent strong conviction of the importance of the Bishop of Rome in the Church, and of the Church as the ongoing sign of Christ’s presence in the world, Leo the Great displayed endless dedication in his role as pope. Elected in 440, he worked tirelessly as "Peter’s successor," guiding his fellow bishops as "equals in the episcopacy and infirmities." Leo is known as one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church.

His work branched into four main areas, indicative of his notion of the pope’s total responsibility for the flock of Christ. He worked at length to control the heresies of Pelagianism, Manichaeism and others, placing demands on their followers so as to secure true Christian beliefs. A second major area of his concern was doctrinal controversy in the Church in the East, to which he responded with a classic letter setting down the Church’s teaching on the nature of Christ. With strong faith, he also led the defence of Rome against barbarian attack, taking the role of peacemaker. In these three areas, Leo’s work has been highly regarded. His growth to sainthood has its basis in the spiritual depth with which he approached the pastoral care of his people, which was the fourth focus of his work. He is known for his spiritually profound sermons. An instrument of the call to holiness, well-versed in Scripture and ecclesiastical awareness, Leo had the ability to reach the everyday needs and interests of his people. One of his Christmas sermons is still famous today.

At a time when there is widespread criticism of Church structures, we also hear criticism that bishops and priests — indeed, all of us — are too preoccupied with administration of temporal matters. Pope Leo is an example of a great administrator who used his talents in areas where spirit and structure are inseparably combined: doctrine, peace and pastoral care. He avoided an "angelism" that tries to live without the body, as well as the "practicality" that deals only in externals.  

 

Sources for this article were taken from:  AmericanCatholic.org

 

Prayer

O God,

You established Your Church on the solid rock of St. Peter.

Grant that she may persevere in Your truth and enjoy continual peace

Through the intercession of Pope St. Leo.

Amen.

Pope Saint Leo – Pray for us