Gospel Reflection

March 10, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

Fourth Sunday of Lent

by Rev. Fr. Caloy Reyes

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

                         

Reading 1 Jos 5:9a, 10-12

The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”

While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month. On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
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. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
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. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
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. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2 2 Cor 5:17-21

Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ  and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them  and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

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

Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent, which is also, called Laetare Sunday. The word 'laetare' means to rejoice. If you'd notice, I'm wearing a pink chasuble, or more of old rose than pink. We are allowed to wear old rose twice a year, during Laetare Sunday, which coincides with the fourth Sunday of Lent, and Gaudete Sunday, which coincides with the third Sunday of Advent. And the reason for this is that the Church has been in penance for a long time, which is symbolized by the color purple, and we break it by the pink or old rose color. This color is the coolest, probably, among the colors, and looking at it gives us a feeling of joy. Coincidentally, in mental institutions, sometimes we use the color pink to calm down the more violent among the patients. So pink has a cooling effect. 

But we wear pink today because today is a happy day. Why is it a happy day? It is because the Lord is telling us about the Father's mercy. We heard in today's Gospel the parable of the prodigal son. And this parable was addressed, not to the sinners, but actually to the religious leaders at that time, the Pharisees and the lawyers. 

And let us admit that almost all of us probably have a little bit of the Pharisee within us. The Pharisees were complaining why Jesus was welcoming sinners. They forgot or they failed to anticipate the real message of our Lord Jesus Christ. And His message is mercy. Mercy and pardon for sinners. 

In the parable of the lost son, something precious was lost, and the person that was lost, was found, after a frantic search, and after anguished waiting. When the lost son was found, there was great joy. 

So what does this mean for each and every one of us? There is joy in finding someone who is lost. There is a lot of joy. And that's why it is right that we celebrate, because God is merciful. God is either frantically looking for us or He is waiting for us expectantly, with a little bit of anguish. 

Sinu-sino ba sa inyo dito ang nawalan na ng anak o ng mahal sa buhay? O kaya may anak kang nagloloko? Ano ang mas mahirap gawin - ang maghanap ng nawawala, o 'yong maghintay na bumalik 'yong nawawala? Siguro maghintay. Pag naghanap ka, at least may ginagawa ka, medyo nalilibang-libang ka. Eh kung nando'n ka lang sa bahay, naghihintay ka, babalik pa ba ang anak ko? Ang hirap no'n. Siguro masira-sira ang ulo mo. 

But this is how God is with us. He searches for us and waits for us. Just like the lost sheep. Iniwan ng shepherd 'yong 99 na tupa, para lang hanapin 'yong isang tupang nawawala. At pag nakita ni Hesus ang nawawalang tupa, sasabihin Niya, "Mabuti nakita na kita. Wala ka bang sakit? Wala ka bang pilay?" And with tenderness, He will say, "Halika na, uwi na tayo...Uwi na tayo." This is how Jesus Christ is with us. 

In the parable of the prodigal son, the younger son got his inheritance and went to a distant country where he squandered the money of his father. He spent everything freely, until he found himself in dire need. Pati sa baboy nakiki-kain na siya. Pag nilayasan natin ang bahay ng Ama, magbubuhay baboy talaga tayo. Buhay baboy. But the Gospel says the son came to himself, and in coming to his senses, he decided to go back to his father's house. 

That is the prodigal son. Now what about the father? The Gospel says that the father saw his son coming home, from still a long way off. Ano ang ibig sabihin noon na malayo pa lang ay nakita ka na ng iyong ama? Ang ibig sabihin no'n ay walang ginawa 'yong Tatay mo kundi dumungaw. Nasaan na kaya 'yong anak ko? So when the father saw the son, he was moved with compassion and then he ran towards the boy. Then coming to him, he embraced him and covered him in kisses. Tuwang-tuwa ang Ama. And this is how our God is, with us.

God is so merciful to us. Let us be merciful, as the Father is merciful. Ang ating Ama ay laging naghihintay, inaabangan tayo, nakadungaw sa bintana. Hindi ka Niya pwedeng pilitin. Nasa sa iyo 'yon. At pag babalik ka na, malayo ka pa lang, natatanaw Ka na Niya. He will run to you, cover you with kisses and embrace you, and will bestow You your heritage.  

Gospel Reflection

March 09, 2013

Saturday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

by Rev. Fr. (Major) Daniel D. Tansip, VHS (Vicar Forane, Vicariate of Palawan, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines)

12:15PM Mass, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel (Greenbelt Chapel), Greenbelt, Makati

                         

Reading 1 Hos 6:1-6

“Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.”

What can I do with you, Ephraim?  What can I do with you, Judah? Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away. For this reason I smote them through the prophets, I slew them by the words of my mouth; For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab

R. (see Hosea 6:6) It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindness
by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,
burnt offerings and holocausts.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

Gospel Lk 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —  greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

HOMILY

Isa na namang mahalagang pagtuturo ang sa atin ay ipinapahayag sa ating pagpapatuloy ng ating pagninilay sa Kuwaresma. Tayo ay nasa kalahatian na ng 40 days of Lent. At kung mamamalayan natin, ang mga uri ng pananalangin ay ipinapakita sa ating mga pagbasa. Ang isa ay matatagpuan sa Unang Pagbasa na ating narinig. At ang dalawa naman ay ipinahayag ng dalawang klaseng tao sa talinhaga ng publikano o tax collector, at ng Phariseo. 

Likas sa mga panahon ni Kristo noon ang mag-isip na ang mga Phariseo ay expert sa kanilang mga gawain tulad ng pagdasal at pag-aalay sa templo. Sa kabilang banda, ang mga publikano, na siyang public offender sa batas, ay hindi inaasahang alam ang lahat tungkol sa templo at pati ang pagdarasal. 

Kung pag-aaralan po nating mabuti ang Phariseo, sila po 'yong mga self-righteous people, at mahilig manghusga sa ibang tao. Wala sa kanila ang pagdarasal na nagmumula sa kalooban, sa kanilang puso. Marahil sila ay nagdarasal dahil ito'y hinihingi ng tradition o rituwal. Mahalaga sa kanila 'yong nakikita sila ng tao na nagdarasal. Kailangang ipakita ito sa mga tao. Hindi mahalaga 'yong kung ano 'yong nasa kalooban. Iba ang laman ng kanilang damdamin. At ang tunay na laman ng kanilang puso ay narinig natin sa kanilang panalangin. Panginoon, salamat po at hindi ako katulad ng ibang mga taong makasalanan - mga swapang, dishonest, adulterous - o di kaya'y tulad nitong publikano - itong nasa aking tabi. Ako ay nag-aayuno (ibig sabihin ay gumagawa ng sakripisyo) dalawang beses sa isang linggo. Ako po ay nagbibigay ng aking ikapu, o 'yong tinatawag nating tithing sa panahon natin ngayon. Mapapansin na ang kanilang panalangin ay puno ng pagmamataas. At sa kanilang mga panalangin, sila ay gumagawa ng category. Inihihiwalay nilang mabuti ang iba, at sila lang ang mabuti sa pamamagitan ng pagsabi ng lahat ng kanyang nagawang kabutihan sa kanilang pagdarasal. Kasabay nito ay ang pang-iinsulto, panlalait, at pangmamaliit sa ibang mga tao. Ang pagmamalinis sa harap ng Diyos ang karaniwang binabanggit ng Phariseo sa kanilang pagdarasal sa Panginoon. Ito ang uri ng kanilang mga panalangin. 

Sa Unang Pagbasa, makikita natin na itong mga Israelita ay kumikilala sa kanilang mga kasalanan, at nagtitiwala sa Diyos na sila ay muling bubuuin at ibabalik sa orihinal na estado sa buhay. Pero itong klaseng pananalangin ay isa lamang lip service, sapagkat may insincerity on the part of the Israelites dito. Walang halaga sa kanila ang intensiyon na magsisi at magbago. Dasal sila nang dasal, pero ayaw namang sundan ng pagbabago ang kanilang buhay. Gusto nilang may mabago sa estado ng kanilang buhay, pero ayaw nila namang ayusin at ituwid ang kanilang pag-iisip at pamumuhay. 

Ang pangatlong uri ng pagdarasal ay maihahalintulad natin sa isang tax collector, sa isang publikano. With all humility, humingi siya ng kapatawaran sa lahat ng pagkakasalang nagawa niya. At ito po'y ginagawa rin natin sa tuwing tayo'y nagsisimba. Sinasabi natin, 'through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault'. The words are a lesson in prayer for everyone of us. "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Maawa po kayo sa akin, O Diyos, ako'y isang makasalanan. Siguro, iyon ay magandang pasimula ng ating panalangin sa tuwing tayo'y nagdarasal. Huwag kaagad tayong humiling kay Lord. Unahin natin ang ating paghingi ng tawad. Maawa po kayo sa akin, O Diyos, ako'y isang makasalanang tao. 

Sa pagdarasal, ang kailangan po nating unahin sa lahat ay humility. Mababang kalooban. Tayo ay nakikipag-usap sa Diyos habang tayo ay nagdarasal. Hindi natin kapantay ang Diyos, kaya't wala po tayong karapatan na magyabang o magmataas sa harapan ng Diyos. Batid Niya kung sino tayo, at kung ano ang ating mga nagawang kalabisan at kasalanan sa buhay. Batid ng Diyos ang ating kalooban, bago pa tayo magdasal sa Kanya. Kaya nga kung tayo ay magdarasal, una, dapat ay nandoon ang kababaang-loob. Ito din ang hinihinging first step ng ating tamang pananalangin. 

Ikalawa ay 'yong sinseridad sa ating puso. Nanggagaling sa puso, nagmumula sa puso ang ating panalangin. At ang ikatlo ay ang kahandaan natin na baguhin ang ating sarili. Binabago ng Diyos ang ating pananaw sa buhay, sa tuwing tayo po ay nagdarasal nang taimtim. 

Meron pong mga pagkakataon na ang laman ng ating dasal ay hindi po para sa atin, kundi para sa iba. Kami pong mga pari, madalas na nilalapitan at hinihingan ng prayers. 'Father, please ipagdasal mo po at isama mo sa misa mo ang aming anak, para makapasa sa Board exam.' Kahit na anong prayers pa 'yan, kung 'yong anak ninyo, hindi tinutulungan ang sarili, wala ring kahulugan ang pagdarasal. 

Iba-iba po ang ating paghingi, ngunit halos lahat ay humihingi ng panalangin sa pari. Minsan, palaging inaasa na lang natin 'yong petition prayer sa pari. 'Yon bang pari ay pinagdarasal natin? O nauuna pa tayo sa chismisan? Chini-chismis natin 'yong parish priest natin? 

Ngayon ay modern na. Fino-forward na 'yong petition through text message. 'Yong petition, fino-forward na lang sa kaibigang pari. Mabuti pa sa text message, piso lang ang bayad, kaysa idaan mo sa opisina, singkuwenta pesos ang bayad sa bawat padasal, bawat petisyon. Pag may kaibigan po kayong pari, huwag n'yo naman pong gawing parang jukebox 'yong pari. Na isang hulog po lamang ng piso through text ay dapat ka niyang ipagdasal. 

Madalas ay may dinarasal tayong isang malaking kahilingan sa Diyos. Pero kung nakuha na po natin at naging answered prayer na po ito, kung magbigay naman tayo sa simbahan, ay madalas na napakaliit kumpara sa napakalaking hinihingi natin kay Lord. 

Minsan, may nagpa-bless sa pari na bagong sasakyan, top of the line. Sa bawat blessing, panay ang kwento ng may-ari sa pari, kesyo ang tagal daw niyang ipinagdasal para magkaroon siya ng bagong sasakyan. At ang kanyang sasakyan ay napakamahal. 1.4 million ang presyo. Pagkatapos ng blessing ay nag-abot naman sa pari ang binata at sabi, "Father, for the Church." At ibinigay ng pari ang envelope sa secretary. Pagbukas ng envelope, ang laman ay 100 pesos lang. (laughs) 1.4 million, tapos 100 pesos lang ang ibinigay mo? Kung tayo ay manghingi sa Diyos, ang laki-laki, pero para sa simbahan, ang liit liit. Hindi ba tayo nahihiya niyan kay Lord?

Mga minamahal na kapatid kay Kristo, kung tayo po ay nagdarasal ay ibinibigay ng Diyos ang ating mga kahilingan, kung bukal sa kalooban natin at tapat tayo sa ating pagdarasal. Nais ng Diyos na marinig ang ating personal prayer, na tayo mismo ang nagdarasal, at hindi natin pinapa-asa sa ibang tao. 

Sa ating pagpapatuloy ng ating spiritual Lenten journey, harinawa ay matuto po tayong magdasal nang tama. Sa ating personal prayers, harinawa ay maging daan ito sa maayos na ugnayan natin sa Diyos at magdala sa atin tungo sa totohanang pagbabago at pagtutuwid ng ating buhay. Kung sa bawat panalangin ay may nababago sa ating buhay, tayo ay nasa tamang pagdarasal. Ngunit kung sa bawat panalangin o sa pagsisimba natin ay lalo tayong hindi nagiging mabuting tao, suriin din natin ang ating prayer o kung anong pananalangin mayroon tayo. 

Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Espiritu Santo, Amen.

Gospel Reflection

March 08, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

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 Hos 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD: Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Take with you words, and return to the LORD; Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; We shall say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion.”

I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree”–  Because of me you bear fruit! Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17

R. (see 11 and 9a) I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
“I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Gospel Mk 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

HOMILY

The first commandment, the highest of all commandments, is to love God first, and the second is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. But to love God and neighbor is not simply lip service. It is not just a manner of fulfilling our obligations, just like our Sunday or daily masses. The love of God must be shown concretely in our lives. 

It is very easy to see Jesus in others, when others are good to us. What if others malign us, hurt us, call us names, ignore us? It is so difficult to see Jesus in these people. 

My brothers and sisters, the love of God can be felt, not only because we do good to our friends or even to strangers. Even if we are hurt by other people, the presence of Jesus is also there, waiting to be revealed. It is up to us to understand, to forgive, and to see how we can bring out Jesus in these people. It is because loving God is not excluding our enemies, but rather, understanding them and getting Jesus inside their hearts.  

The only question we should ask is this. Will I be able to see Jesus in those who hurt me, in spite of how I feel? Or am I going to close my eyes and only see Jesus in those who are good to me, because I don't want to see those who have hurt me?