Reading and Gospel of the Day

March 28, 2013

Holy Thursday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

Holy Week – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

                         

Reading 1 Ex 12:1-8, 11-14

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it the first month of the year. Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every one of your families must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household. If a family is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join the nearest household in procuring one and shall share in the lamb in proportion to the number of persons who partake of it. The lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. You may take it from either the sheep or the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month,  and then, with the whole assembly of Israel present,  it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight. They shall take some of its blood  and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb. That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

“This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the LORD. For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every firstborn of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt—I, the LORD! But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you.

“This day shall be a memorial feast for you,  which all your generations shall celebrate  with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18

R. (cf. 1 Cor 10:16) Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
R. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
R. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

Reading 2 1 Cor 11:23-26

Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,  that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Gospel Jn 13:1-15

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper,  fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin  and began to wash the disciples’ feet  and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,  “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him,  “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over;  so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when he had washed their feet  and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,  you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” 

Reading and Gospel of the Day

March 28, 2013

Holy Thursday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

Holy Week – Chrism Mass

                         

Reading 1 Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn; To place on those who mourn in Zion a diadem instead of ashes, To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit.

You yourselves shall be named priests of the LORD, ministers of our God shall you be called.

I will give them their recompense faithfully, a lasting covenant I will make with them. Their descendants shall be renowned among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; All who see them shall acknowledge them as a race the LORD has blessed.

Responsorial Psalm PS 89:21-22, 25 and 27

R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him.
That my hand may always be with him;
and that my arm may make him strong.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him;
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior!’“
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2 Rv 1:5-8

[Grace to you and peace] from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his Blood, who has made us into a Kingdom, priests for his God and Father,  to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Gospel Lk 4:16-21

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them,  “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” 

Gospel Reflection

March 27, 2013

Holy Wednesday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

Holy Week

by Rev.  Fr. Joel Jason (Dean, Graduate School of Theology San Carlos Seminary)

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

                         

Reading 1 Is 50:4-9a

The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; And I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let him confront me. See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong?

Responsorial Psalm PS 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving:
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Gospel Mt 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“ The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

HOMILY

Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat. 

Alam ko hong naikwento ko na sa inyo ito minsan, but let me share it with you once again, because it is a very good time to repeat the story, and make it a starting point for my reflection this afternoon. 

Minsan po merong isang babaeng nag-abroad, nakakita siya ng very expensive na diamond necklace worth US$10,000. Ang ginawa niya, tinext niya 'yong asawa niya na nasa Pilipinas. Sabi niya, "Honey, nakakita ako ng necklace, US$10,000. Bibilhin ko ba sa credit card mo? And then sumagot 'yong asawa niya, "No, price is too high dear."

So pag-uwi no'ng babae, nagmamadali siya, nagpunta do'n sa asawa niya, "Honey, narito na 'yong diamond necklace na pinabili mo." Sabi no'ng lalaki, "Hindi ba sabi ko sa 'yo, huwag mong bilhin?" So ang sabi ng babae, "Hindi, ito nga 'yong text mo, o." And then pinakita niya 'yong text at ang nakasulat, "No price is too high dear." Nakalimutan niya 'yong comma after the word 'no'. Kaya naiba ang meaning ng kanyang sinabi. Ang ibig sabihin ay walang mahal. 

Alam n'yo sa istoryang 'yan, mayroong dalawang nagtatalong attitudes. Ano 'yong dalawang nagtatalong attitudes dito? 'Yong tinatawag nating the 'spirit of calculation' and the 'spirit of evaluation'. Maraming mga tao, they always calculate. Laging nagbibilang, laging nagtatantiya. Pag nakakita ng presyo, laging ang recount niya, "No, price is too high dear." Pero 'yong mga taong nabubuhay sa spirit of evaluation, ano 'yon? 'Yon 'yong mga taong hindi masyadong nagbibilang. Kasi pinapahalagahan nila ang value ng mga bagay-bagay. Kaya para sa isang taong nagmamahal, ano'ng sinasabi niya, "No price is too high dear." 

Sa ating Ebanghelyo, makikita natin itong dalawang nagtatalong attitudes na ito. Si Hudas, ano 'yong kanyang attitude? Para sa kanya, lagi siyang nabubuhay sa spirit of calculation. Nakita niya ang Panginoon, at ano ang naisip niya agad? 'Naku, maraming naghahanap dito sa aking Panginoon. Siguro pag ibinenta ko ang aking Panginoon, malaki ang makukuha ko dito.' Spirit of calculation. Pag nakakita ng isang bagay, pinepresyuhan agad. 

Actually 'yong kwento ni Hudas, nagsimula pa noong nakaraang Lunes. Nagsimba po ba kayo noong nakaraang Lunes? Ano 'yong Ebanghelyo natin noong nakaraang Lunes? Si Maria, tinanggap si Hesus sa kanyang bahay. At no'ng nandoon ang ating Panginoon, nakakita siya ng mamahaling pabango. Ginamit niya 'yong pabango para hugasan ang paa ng ating Panginoon. Noong makita ni Hudas 'yon, ano'ng sabi niya? 'Ang mahal naman ng pabangong 'yan. Kung ibebenta natin 'yang pabangong 'yan, malaki ang makukuha natin. Bakit ginamit lang para kay Hesus?' The spirit of calculation. Ang nakikita lang niya ay 'yong nabibilang. 

When we are led by the spirit of calculation, we can only see those things that can be counted. 'Yong mga pwedeng bilangin, 'yong mga pwedeng presyuhan. At ito 'yong dahilan kung bakit si Hudas, maging ang ating Panginoon, ay pinresyuhan. 'Magkano kaya ang matatanggap ko kapag ipinagkanulo ko ang aking Panginoon?' 

But we are being called to live in the opposite spirit, and that is the spirit of evaluation. Hindi tayo nagbibilang. Ang tinitingnan natin ay 'yong value, 'yong kahalagahan ng mga bagay. Kaya ang Holy Week, ano'ng tawag natin dito? Mga Mahal na Araw. Bakit Mahal na Araw? Kasi tinitingnan natin dito na mahal ang iginugol ng Diyos para tubusin tayo sa ating mga kasalanan at makamtan natin ang kaligtasan. Mga Mahal na Araw. 

Kaya lang ano'ng problema? Minsan pagdating sa Diyos, binabarat natin ang Diyos. Lagi tayong nagbibilang. Lagi tayong nagtatantiya. Basta para sa atin, hindi tayo nagbibilang. Pero basta para sa Diyos, para sa buhay na espirituwal, ayan nagbibilang tayo. 'Ang tagal naman ng Homily ng paring 'yan, tatlong minuto na, may gagawin pa ako.' Minsan nagsisimula pa lamang mag-Homily ang pari, tumitingin na tayo sa ating relo. Nagbibilang kaagad tayo. Pero pag nanonood tayo ng teleseryeng 'Please be Careful With My Heart', (laughs) naku kahit na marathon hindi natin nabibilang ang oras. Mayroon akong isang kaibigan, sabi niya, "Ay Father alam n'yo ngayong Holy Week, hiniram ko ang lahat ng DVD ng 'Please Be Careful with My Heart', magma-marathon movie ako. (laughs) Ayan hindi tayo nagbibilang, pagdating sa mga bagay na 'yan. Pero pagdating sa Diyos, ayan palagi tayong nagbibilang. 

Merong kwento ng isang Nanay, meron daw siyang apat na anak. 'Yong una niyang anak na lalaki, guwapong guwapo. Sabi niya, "Ay anak mag-artista ka." 'Yong pangalawang anak niya ay matalino. Sabi niya, "Ay anak, mag-ano ka....Presidente ng Pilipinas. O kaya naman ay maging scientist ka." 'Yong pangalawang anak niya, medyo sabihin nating magaling kumanta. Sabi niya, "Ah...mag-singer ka anak. Pumasok ka sa showbusiness." 'Yong pang-apat na anak niya, pangit. And he is also a weakling. Sabi niya, "Ay anak, mag-pari ka na lang." (loud laughs). 

Bakit tayo may ganyang attitude na pag pangit, magpari ka. (laughs) Basta pangit, para sa Diyos. Hindi ba dapat 'yong pinaka-guwapo, 'yong ang dapat para sa Diyos? Kaya noong isang araw, tuwang tuwa ako eh. Meron akong natanggap sa Facebook. Sabi doon, "Hindi lahat ng guwapo at magaling kumanta ay nag-a-artista. Ang iba ay nagpapari. Oh, di ba? (laughs and soft cheers) Nakalagay doon, 'Like if you agree'. Eh di like like like ako ano. (laughs) Kasi kahit paano maganda 'yong attitude. Pag maganda, aba'y ialay natin sa Panginoon. Kaya lang minsan ang ating attitude, basta maganda, basta mahal, ay para sa 'kin 'yan. 'Yong pangit, 'yong mumurahin, 'yan - 'yan na lang ang ibigay natin para sa Diyos. The spirit of calculation. Si Hudas, ganoon ang kanyang attitude. 'Ah...mahal ang makukuha ko dito. Ito para sa akin.' Pero pagdating sa buhay espirituwal, ayan hindi niya binigyan ng pagpapahalaga. 

Ngayong mga Mahal na Araw...ano ang tawag sa atin ng Holy Week? Let us not be very calculating. And let us pay attention, not only to those things that can be counted, but more importantly, to those things that truly count. When you live by the spirit of calculation, ang nakikita mo lang ay 'yong mga bagay na nabibilang, na nakukuwenta. But when you live by the spirit of evaluation, you begin to see those things that truly count, those things that are truly valuable. At ito 'yong dahilan kung bakit tayo mayroong tinatawag na mga Mahal na Araw. 

After this mass, we have a recollection. Ang aking invitation, kung wala naman kayong gagawin, at kung kayo'y libre naman, it is good if you can spend the afternoon attending the recollection. Bakit? Kasi ito 'yong panahon para pagtuunan natin ng pansin 'yong ating buhay espiritu. 'Yong ating buhay espirituwal. 'Yong mga bagay ng ating buhay na hindi nabibilang, pero mahalaga. The spirit of evaluation. 

As we continue with this Holy Mass, let that be the grace that we will ask from the Lord. Na huwag nating gawing mura ang mga Mahal na Araw. Bigyan natin ng atensiyon ang ating ugnayan sa Diyos. Bigyan natin ng atensiyon ang ating buhay espirituwal. Amen.