Gospel Reflection

March 03, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

Third Sunday of Lent

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

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

                         

Reading 1 Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15

Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb,
the mountain of God.There an angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.”

When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, AMoses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers, “ he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. But the LORD said, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt  and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering.Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.”

God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites:  The LORD, the God of your fathers,  the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob,  has sent me to you.

“This is my name forever;
thus am I to be remembered through all generations.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
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 is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills,
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Reading 2 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ.Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert.

These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer.These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come.Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.

Gospel Lk 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

HOMILY

Here's another story of a familiar anecdote. There is an honest man who worked in his store for more than 50 years. He was so honest and he was so helpful to his customers. When he celebrated his 75th birthday, his clients decided to give him a token for the good service he had given them throughout the years. So they donated money and gave it to the store owner. Upon receiving this, he was very much joyful and was really grateful. 

So he decided to have an overhaul. Di po ba napapanood po natin sa TV 'yong....Ano'ng tawag do'n? Make-over...'yon ang tawag doon, ano.....He changed his wardrobe, he had his hair dyed, then he had his dentures fixed. So, ibang ibang tao na siya noong lumabas siya sa shop. 

Then he met a lady. And on their first date, as he was going to their place of appointment, he was struck down by lightning, and he went up to heaven. So the man was complaining. Sabi niya, "Lord, bakit naman? Ang bait bait ko po buong buhay ko, pero bakit ngayon, may nakilala lang akong isang napalapit sa akin, ay kinuha mo akong bigla? At ang sabi ng Panginoon sa kanya ay, "Sorry ha....hindi kita nakilala eh. Nag-iba ka na ng hitsura." (laughs)

For most of us, we still look the same. 'Yong iba sa atin, noong dati makapal ang buhok, pero medyo ngayon ay maganda na 'yong bumbunan. (laughs) Nag-iiba tayo ng anyo. Pero 'yong pag-iibang anyo natin is more on sa loob. Pinanganak tayong anak ng Diyos. Pinanganak tayong mabuti. Pinanganak tayong mabait. Pero habang tayo ay lumalaki, nadaragdagan nang nadaragdagan ang ating puso, ang ating pagkatao, na hindi na tayo nakikilala ng Diyos. "Anak ko pa ba ito? Eh punong-puno na ng kasalanan." Hindi na Niya tayo nakikilala. That's why He wants us to have that make-over again. 'Yon ang tinatawag na conversion of the heart. 

When we started the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday, I asked the people in my homilies, "What did we start today?" At sumagot ang mga tao na iyon ay unang araw ng Kuwaresma. Pero sabi ko, hindi. 'Yon ang unang araw ng mga puso. Nagtawanan sila dahil the following day was Valentine's Day, and they thought I was referring to that romantic day of the hearts. Sabi ko, hindi. Tingnan n'yo po, mula noong pag-umpisa ng ating pagdiriwang ng Kuwaresma, naririnig natin lagi, "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts." At ang kauna-unahan at pinakadakilang utos sa atin, is to love God with all your life. 

Tayo ngayon ay tinatawag na magbago ng ating mga puso. The Season of Lent is a season of the heart. Naka-focus tayo sa ating puso. Ito 'yong panahon ng conversion, ng pagbabalik-loob sa Diyos. Ating talikdan ang ating mga kasalanan. Pagsisihan natin ang ating buhay kabuktutan at kadiliman. 'Yan ang panawagan. 

Pero talagang napakatigas ng ulo ng mga tao. In the First Reading, probably, we can also be like Moses during the burning bush. When he was called by God to proclaim the goodness of God to the Israelites, what did Moses say? I am just a nobody. I don't even know Your name. Hindi ako marunong magsalita. What if the people won't believe me? Moses gave a lot of excuses. He gave a lot of rationalization. Probably, ganoon din tayo sa buhay natin. Tinatawag na tayo ng Diyos na magbalik-loob, pero sasabihin natin na malakas pa tayo, bata pa tayo, we need to experience life. Tapos biglang bigla, kukunin ka na ni Lord. Time mo na pala. Hindi na tayo nagkaraoon ng panahon para magsisi. Naroon pa rin ang patuloy na pamumuhay ng kasalanan, ng kasamaan. Wala na tayong chance magbago. 

That is why in this season of Lent, the Church reminds us to open our eyes, to open our ears, to open our hearts to the true meaning of our lives. Ano nga ba ang ginagawa natin sa buhay natin ngayon? 

Pag panahon ng Kuwaresma, makikita natin ang dalawang uri ng tao. Pero parehong ang tawag sa kanila ay 'walang hiya'. Una, may mga taong nakapila sa confessional box. Hindi sila nahihiyang ipahayag sa mga tao na sila ay makasalanan, at sila ay nangangailangan ng pagpapatawad ng Diyos. Mga walang hiya. Ngunit ang ikalawang uri ng walang hiya, ay yaong mga patuloy na gumagawa ng kabuktutan at kasamaan. 'Yon ang mga taong pagkarinig ng salita ng Diyos ay binabalewala lang ito at sinasabing, "This is not for me", and continue on with their sinful lives. 

Meron namang mga taong attitude ang sagot sa panawagan ng Diyos. Kamukha ng sinasabi ni San Pablo sa Ikalawang Pagbasa, binigyan niya ng warning ang mga tao ng Corinth, at ang sabi niya, 'Do not be so sure, that you are standing now. Be careful, and I'm warning you not to fall.' Mayroon sa atin na ang akala ay porke tayo ay nagsisimba linggo-linggo, madalas tayong nagdarasal, naglilingkod sa simbahan, akala natin ay sigurado na tayong may lugar sa langit. Be careful, you might fall. Ito 'yong tinatawag na spiritual over-confidence. Baka ang akala natin, kung madalas tayong tumatawag sa Diyos, automatic na tayo ay may lugar na sa langit. 

My dear brothers and sisters, let us continue on with our journey of Lent, and try to re-establish our relationship with God. That is why we are given the three pillars of Lent - prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Sa mga spiritual exercises na ito, makikita natin 'yong tunay nating pagkatao. Pinanganak tayong anak ng Diyos. Sana, sa huling yugto ng ating buhay, kilala pa rin tayo ng Diyos bilang Kanyang mga anak. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

March 02, 2013

First Saturday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

by Rev.  Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

6:30AM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Mi 7:14-15, 18-20

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, that dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs.

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.

Responsorial Psalm PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
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 is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Gospel Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable. “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, this is the famous parable of the lost son. And I liked the image when the son was practicing what he will say to his father before going home. "Father I have sinned against God and against you, I am no longer fit to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired workers."

And when they met, at the very moment that the son said that he is no longer fit to be called his father's son, the father stopped him. Even if the father may have regretted whatever happened, he is still his son. The father did not want his son to go on to say that he be treated as one of his hired workers. No. He stopped him and embraced him.

And this is the beautiful detail that I see, because it shows the great love of God for us, God's love as a father, His fatherly love for us.

"This son of mine was dead, and he is alive." This is for us. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

March 01, 2013

First Friday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

by Rev. Fr. Joseph “Joey” Faller (Spiritual Director of the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center, Lucban Quezon Province)

12:15PM Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

                         

Reading 1 Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a

Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic. When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.

One day, when his brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem, Israel said to Joseph,  “Your brothers, you know, are tending our flocks at Shechem. Get ready; I will send you to them.”

So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan. They noticed him from a distance, and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one another: “Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here; we could say that a wild beast devoured him. We shall then see what comes of his dreams.”

When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from their hands, saying, “We must not take his life. Instead of shedding blood,” he continued, “just throw him into that cistern there in the desert; but do not kill him outright.” His purpose was to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father. So when Joseph came up to them, they stripped him of the long tunic he had on; then they took him and threw him into the cistern, which was empty and dry.

They then sat down to their meal. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, balm and resin to be taken down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers: “What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood?  Rather, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, instead of doing away with him ourselves. After all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.

Responsorial Psalm PS 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R. (5a) Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
When the LORD called down a famine on the land
and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
They had weighed him down with fetters,
and he was bound with chains,
Till his prediction came to pass
and the word of the LORD proved him true.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

Gospel Mt 21:33-43, 45-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:  “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

HOMILY

Today is March 1, 2013, first Friday, and in the calendar of the Catholic Church, officially today, the Pope steps down as the universal leader of the Catholic Church. Wala na po tayo ngayong Papa. But what I can say is - this is a supreme act of humility on the part of Pope Benedict XVI. Imagine - you are at the highest position in the Church, and then you divested yourself of that power. Hindi po madali na tanggalin ang power. Hindi po katulad ng ating mga pulitiko na kapit-tuko. Nakatatlo nang term, ipapasa pa sa asawa (laughs), pagkatapos namang ipasa sa asawa , babalik ulit, pangatlong term ulit, ipapasa naman do'n sa anak, at pagkatapos, babalik na naman. Walang sawa.

This is really a great example of how to use power. Pope Benedict XVI knew that he will not be able to function effectively. Kaya sabi niya, 'Enough is enough. But I will not stop praying for the Church. I will not abandon the Cross. I will accompany you in your pilgrimage, by praying for all of you." Palakpakan po natin si Pope Benedict XVI, (loud applause) for his dedication, for his writings. Napakaganda po ng mga naisulat niya. Kahit po siya ay number one na very strict theologian, nagsimula po siya sa very basic na encyclical. If you must remember, the first encyclical written by Pope Benedict XVI is "Deus Caritas Est", which means "God is love." It is very basic. We are being reminded by Pope Benedict XVI about the tremendous love of God for all of us.

Do you believe that God loves you? (people loudly and firmly say 'YES') Naniniwala po kayong mahal kayo ng Diyos? ('YES') Sa kabila ng inyong mga problema sa buhay, mahal kayo ng Diyos? ('YES') Sa kabila ng iyong mga karamdaman, mahal ka pa rin ng Diyos? ('YES') Sa kabila ng iyong mga utang na di mabayaran (laughs), mahal ka pa rin ng Diyos? ('YES') Ayan....that is the spirit that our God is a loving God.

So we go straight to the First Reading. Alam po ninyo, kung meron pong mala-teleserye na istorya sa Bible, ito po'ng ating First Reading today. Ito po'y one of my favorites, hindi po dahil kapangalan ko si Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, pero napakaganda po ng kanyang istorya. As you listen to the First Reading, the brothers envied Joseph, because he was the favorite of the father. Kung kaya naman they plotted to kill Joseph. Sabi no'ng isang kapatid na si Reuben, 'Huwag na lang. Itapon na lang natin do'n sa bangin, bahala na ang leon sa kanya at ang mga wild animals'. Pero ginawa ni Reuben 'yon para iligtas si Joseph. Pero maya-maya sabi ni Judah na isa pa rin niyang kapatid, 'Huwag na lang. Ipagbili na lang natin 'yan sa mga darating na tribo.' And Joseph was sold to the tribe of the Ishmaelites.

Then dumating 'yong panahon ng taggutom. And Joseph rose to power. He became one of the influential leaders of Egypt. In fact, siya po ay isa sa may pinakamataas na katungkulan. At dumating 'yong pagkakataon na humingi ng tulong ang kanyang mga kapatid. Mala-teleserye, kung inyong babaybayin. Bago pa nagpakilala si Joseph sa kanyang mga kapatid, medyo dinramahan muna niya. Kinuha 'yong isang kapatid, at pagkatapos ay kinontrol-control niya ang kanyang sarili. Kinimkim-kimkim ni Joseph ang kanyang nararamdaman. Pero no'ng dumating 'yong Tatay niya, at mga kapatid, hindi na niya na-control ang kanyang sarili at nagpakilala na siya. Suddenly, a tragedy became a blessing.

This is how the Lord is dealing with all of us. Sometimes, the Lord will allow us to experience tragedies. And from that tragedy, the blessing of the Lord will come out. This is my story (Father raises his right hand). My healing started from an accident. That accident made my hand look like the hand of Jesus Christ. And from that accident, my ministry of healing came out, nang nabaluktot ang aking daliri. This is the story of Joseph. From tragedy, the blessing of the Lord came out.

Ito rin po ang aking nais sabihin sa inyo. As we celebrate the Year of Faith, we must be able to believe that God is so powerful, that He can transform your problems into a blessing. He can transform your good Friday experience into Easter Sunday. Napakamakapangyarihan ng Diyos, na kahit ang inyong mga problema, magiging mga biyaya. Because in every problem, there is a blessing. In every cross, there is a blessing.

Going to our Holy Gospel for today. Alam po ninyo the Gospel talks about the Kingdom of God. And there are many symbolisms. The land owner represents God. The tenants represent the religious people, the religious leaders, the Scribes and Pharisees. The slaves represent the prophets, the kings, the patriarchs whom the Lord sent. And then the son who was killed, is Jesus Christ. The harvest is the end of the world, while the vineyard is the Kingdom of God.

Ano po ang inyong gagawin kapag naisugo na ninyo ang inyong mga alipin? Nagsugo na kayo nang tatlong beses. Isinugo n'yo ang isa, pinatay. Isinugo n'yo ang pangalawa, patay din. Sinugo 'yong pangatlo, patay din. Will you send your son afterwards, bilang Nanay? Isusugo pa ho ba ninyo ang inyong anak? Syempre hindi na. But the Holy Gospel gives us the idea of who God is. God is a very patient God. He will continue to send. He will continue to wait for all of us, because he is a God of a million chances. So the Holy Gospel talks about the ways of God. Na hindi Niya binibilang ang ating mga pagkakamali. Mahalaga sa Kanya ang ating pagbabalik-loob.

The second point in our Holy Gospel is that we are the vineyard of the Lord. And the Lord is expecting you and I to bear much fruit. Tayo po ang masasabi nating ubasan ng Panginoon. And if we are the vineyard of the Lord, the Lord is expecting you and I to give a great harvest.

Maganda pong itanong natin sa ating sarili. May bunga na ba ang ating pagiging Kristiyano? May bunga na ba ang ating pagiging Katoliko? Ano nga ba ang bunga? Bungang-araw? (laughs) Ano po kaya ang bunga ng ating pagiging Kristiyano?

Today, as we celebrate first Friday, let us reflect on our faith. Ang atin bang pananampalata ay patuloy na lumalago? Patuloy na tumitibay? Do we always ask for a sign for our faith? Let us cease asking the Lord for signs. But just believe that God has a beautiful plan for all of us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.