Gospel Reflection

February 07, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Weekday

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

12:15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Heb 12:18-19, 21-24

Brothers and sisters: You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them. Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled Blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 9, 10-11

R. (see 10) O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Mount Zion, “the recesses of the North,”
the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
As we had heard, so have we seen
in the city of the LORD of hosts,
In the city of our God;
God makes it firm forever.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
O God, we ponder your mercy
within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.

Gospel Mk 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

HOMILY

It is the experience of parents, that when they want to ask their children to do something which their children do not want to do, they would either use force, or use diplomacy. Of course, this will vary on the degree, depending on the age of their children. If the children are much younger, then the more force you have to use with them. But when they are old enough and become adults, then you will have to use more gentle persuasion. You have to reason out to them, and use more diplomacy and tact, in order to have them do what you want them to do.

This is also the case with God our Father. During the time of the Old Covenant, the people were scared of God because He showed His might. In Mount Sinai, He showed them thunder, fire, lightning, earthquake. And the people trembled with fear. God was able to show His force and people obeyed because relatively, the people remembered with fear what God could do to them.

Now, in the New Covenant, the author of the book of Hebrews is telling us that God can also use gentle persuasion to His people. When God sent Jesus Christ as the meat lamb to be sacrificed for our salvation, God showed His might, not by power or force, but by the power of His love. And so it is, also with us. Whenever we preach and teach other people that God is love, we should not force them. We should use our gentle persuasion. We should ask them to remember God's love, through the love that we also show to them.

However, when we are told to preach that we are sent to proclaim God's message, most of us would be hesitant. Most of us will be reasoning out, "We have not been trained to preach the Gospel. We were not taught." We always point to the priests, the nuns, and the catechists, and say, "It is their duty. They are the professionals. Let them do the work of proclaiming the Kingdom of God."

My dear brothers and sisters, there is no other. There is no one else. All of us have been sent, by virtue of our baptism, to proclaim the message of God. His truth should go on at all times. And we will do it, not merely by words, but more so by our gentle actions and persuasion. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

February 06, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Weekday

Memorial of Saint Miki and Companions, Martyrs

by Rev.  Fr. Nilo Mangussad (Rector Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish)

12;15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Heb 12:4-7, 11-15

Brothers and sisters: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges. Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as his sons. For what Ason” is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18a

R. (see 17) The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
For he knows how we are formed;
he remembers that we are dust.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward children’s children
among those who keep his covenant.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Gospel Mk 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.  When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

HOMILY

We seem to be always in a distressing situation. We are always bombarded with negative things in life that we complain. If only there is somebody who can help us, probably this becomes easier to manage. But the truth is, God is always here with us - guiding, helping, protecting us. The only problem is we only see the distressing situation, but not the hand of God helping us. 

Just like any parent, God allows us to experience situations - challenging as they are - to help us grow, to learn discipline, and to mold our character. It is character building. Just like a parent does this to his children, God does the same to us, not to hurt, not to punish, but to protect. To help us become stronger in the situations of life. 

You see, my brothers and sisters, the world is never away from such melt pot of distress, of rejection and of pain. But we must remember this. Even if we are subjected to this kind of 'heat' in life, God holds the thermostat. If we can realize that God is in control of all the 'heat' in our lives, then things become bearable. 

The only question is - what do we believe in, whenever these negative things happen in our life? Is it the fault of God, or is it God's hand adjusting the thermostat of our life?

Gospel Reflection

February 05, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Weekday

Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

by Rev. Fr. Ting Miciano, Parish Priest, St. John Bosco Parish, Makati

7:3AM Mass, St. John Bosco Parish, Makati

                         

Reading 1 Heb 12:1-4

Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:26b-27, 28 and 30, 31-32

R. (see 27b) They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts be ever merry!”
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
Before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

Gospel Mk 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”  Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

HOMILY

Yesterday, I made a comment about the strange and unusual story that we read from St. Mark about the healing of the man possessed by a legion of demons, and the demons entered into the herd of swine and got drowned. In order to fully understand this story, we have to know the mentality of the Jews. So St. Mark pictured to them the contrast between uncleanness, through the images of demons, tombs, pigs and pagans, and the purity and power of Jesus. 

Our Gospel today is also quite a long one. We see two beautiful stories of healing - the daughter of Jairus and the woman who was suffering from bleeding. Again, it is something strange. The woman, who was maybe afraid, and perhaps also a pagan, secretly touched Jesus at the back. She touched His clothes, hoping that her situation will change, the moment she gets in touch with Jesus. And Jesus, realizing that power had gone out of Him, asked, "Who touched My clothes?" Naturally, the Apostles found the question very strange because everybody was crowding on Him. But Jesus said that somebody touched Him differently. Somebody touched Him with faith. That's the difference. Healing happened because of the faith of the woman. And Jesus also cured the daughter of Jairus, through the faith of Jairus and his family. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid. Just have faith."

What is faith? Faith is the one that enables us to get connected to God. Before, I used to feel uneasy when I see people touching statues, imploring and praying on the statues of saints, until I realized that that gesture is a sign of faith. God touches us by His power, by His love. But we get in touch with that power, by our faith. God touches us by His power, and we touch God by our faith. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

February 04, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Weekday

by Rev. Fr. Prudencio 'Jun' T. Solomon (Rector and Parish Priest)

12:15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Heb 11:32-40

Brothers and sisters: What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders. Women received back their dead through resurrection. Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance,
in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword’s point; they went about in skins of sheep or goats, needy, afflicted, tormented.The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth.

Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised. God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:20, 21, 22, 23, 24

R. (25) Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
How great is the goodness, O LORD,
which you have in store for those who fear you,
And which, toward those who take refuge in you,
you show in the sight of the children of men.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men;
You screen them within your abode
from the strife of tongues.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Blessed be the LORD whose wondrous mercy
he has shown me in a fortified city.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Once I said in my anguish,
“I am cut off from your sight”;
Yet you heard the sound of my pleading
when I cried out to you.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones!
The LORD keeps those who are constant,
but more than requites those who act proudly.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

Gospel Mk 5:1-20

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

HOMILY

"Go home to your family, and announce to them, all that the Lord, in His pity, has done for you." Humayo ka at ibahagi mo ang awang iyong tinanggap mula sa Panginoon.

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, ito ang utos ni Hesus sa lalaking Kanyang pinagaling. Sa lalaking Kanyang tinanggalan o pinalayas ang mga masasamang espiritu na umaali sa kanya. 'Humayo ka at ibahagi mo sa kanila ang lahat nang naranasan mong awa mula sa Panginoon.'

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, mga ginigiliw kong mga kaibigan, maaaring tayo'y hindi naalihan ng masamang espiritu. Pero katulad ng lalaking ito'y marami rin tayong natanggap na mabuting bagay mula sa Panginoon. Tayo rin ay nakatanggap ng habag, tayo rin ay nakatanggap ng awa, tayo rin ay nakatanggap ng kagandahang loob mula sa Diyos. At ang sinasabi sa atin ng Panginoon ay humayo din tayo. Ibahagi natin ang naranasan nating awa mula sa Kanya.

Ilang pagkakataon na ba ang ating ginawa upang maibahagi ang ating naramdaman o naranasan mula sa Panginoon? May mga pagkakataon na ba, na atin ding sinabi, ipinangaral o kaya'y ibinahagi sa ating mga minamahal sa buhay ang mga bagay na tinatanggap natin mula sa Diyos?

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, patuloy tayong humayo. Patuloy nating ibahagi sa iba ang awa't habag na ating patuloy na tinatanggap, sapagkat ang Diyos ay nagmamagandang-loob sa atin. Ito rin ang utos sa atin ng Ebanghelyo. At katulad ng lalaking inalihan ng masamang espiritu, nakakatanggap tayo ng kabutihan mula sa Diyos. Sana'y huwag nating ipagkait sa iba ang karanasang ito. Sana'y huwag nating sarilihin. Ibahagi rin natin katulad ng utos ni Hesus sa lalaking iyon.

"Go home to your family, and announce to them, all that the Lord, in His pity, has done for you." Humayo kayo at ibahagi ninyo ang awa at habag na inyong natamo mula sa Panginoon.