Gospel Reflection

April 07, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Easter Season

Second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday

by Rev. Fr. Larry Tan, S.D.B.

6:00PM Anticipated Sunday Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, (Greenbelt Chapel) Makati

                         

Reading 1 Acts 5:12-16

Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R. (1) Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus. I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said, “Write on a scroll what you see.” Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.

When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.”

Gospel Jn 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

HOMILY

Good evening everyone.

We are still in the Octave of Easter celebration. We call it Octave because we can say that we cannot contain the joy on the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Kaya para sa mga nagsisimba sa inyo araw-araw, even if it is not a Sunday or a holy day of obligation, you will notice that we sing 'Glory to God in the Highest'. Tayo kasi ay natutuwa at nagagalak na si Hesus ay muling nabuhay. So hindi pwedeng isang araw lang ang celebration, kaya patuloy pa rin.

Ang muling pagkabuhay ng Panginoon ang pinakamahalagang kapistahan. It is the most important feast of the Church. Dalawa ang pinakamahalagang kapistahan ng simbahan. Ano 'yon? Pasko or Christmas, at ang Muling Pagkabuhay. Pero kung ikukumpara natin 'yong dalawa, ang Muling Pagkabuhay pa rin ang mas mahalaga sa Pasko, although mas colorful ang Pasko - maraming palamuti. Bakit ito mas mahalaga? Ito'y sapagkat lahat tayo ay ipinanganak o isinilang pero isa lang ang muling nabuhay at ito ay ang ating Panginoong Hesukristo. And that is why St. Paul said that if Christ has not risen from the dead, our faith is useless. Easter proves beyond reasonable doubt that Jesus is not only man, but that He is truly God. Siya ay talagang Diyos.

The Resurrection of Jesus proves His power over death. Jesus is alive, and therefore, death could not get hold of Him. To those who have attended the Easter Vigil, you will hear the words, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" Dahil ang unang bunga ng kasalanan ni Adan at Eba ay walang iba kundi ang kamatayan. Pero sa muling pagkabuhay ng Panginoon ay pinatunayan Niyang tama na hindi na tayo matatakot sa kamatayan. Lahat tayo ay mamamatay. Whether we like it or not, we are all heading there, tama ba? Kahit na ilang healing sessions ang puntahan n'yo, mamamatay rin kayo. (laughs) Maliwanag? Walang lusot. Yes, we pray, but ultimately, we have to be open to the will of God. Siya ang nakaka-alam kaya kung tayo ay naniniwala, dapat ay hindi tayo natatakot sa kamatayan.

I just came from New York (whew!)....dahil namatay ang mother ko. At dahil namatay ang mother ko on March 1, first Friday, ako na, chronologically ang sunod. (laughs) Ako na. Ewan ko kung gusto kong mauna ang mga kapatid ko o hindi (laughs) pero ultimately, ako na ang pinakamatanda sa aming pamilya. Pero iniisip ko na bakit ako matatakot? 'Yong minahal at kinasama ko dito sa lupa ay makakasama ko rin sa kabilang buhay. Kung ganoon ang isip natin, hindi tayo matatakot.

Napanood n'yo ba ang Les Miserables?Di ba noong si Jean Veljean ay malapit nang mamatay, sinabi niya, "Take me now, take me there, bring me home." And then nakita niya si Anne Hathaway, pati 'yong pari na nagtiwala sa kanya kaya siya nagbago. Kaya kayo, pag may nakikita na kayo, nakikita n'yo na ang Nanay n'yo o Tatay n'yo na nauna na sa inyo (laughs), dumiretso na kayo diyan (pointing to the confessional), mangumpisal na kayo at humingi na kayo ng awa sa Diyos (laughs) dahil ang ibig sabihin ay malapit ka na. Sinusundo ka na. Pero bakit tayo matatakot? Muling nabuhay na ang Panginoon. And so death has no victory, no sting. So huwag na tayong matakot.

The Resurrection also proves the power of Jesus Christ over sin. Siya ay handang magpatawad sa ating mga kasalanan. Tamang tama na ngayon ay Divine Mercy Sunday. Wala nang kasalanan ang masasabi nating mangingibabaw pa sa awa at kagandahang-loob ng Diyos. Basta't humingi tayo ng patawad. 'Yon lang naman ang kondisyon eh. Sabi nga ng Santo Papa, Pope Francis, more often than not, tayo ang unang nagsasawang humingi ng patawad, pero ang Diyos ay hindi nagsasawang magbigay ng patawad. He has unlimited Divine Mercy.

What is Easter? Bilisan ko na ha. May pupuntahan pa ba kayo pagkatapos ng misa? Wala? Anyway, paminsan-minsan lang naman ako dito sa Greenbelt Chapel.

What is Easter? First, letter E. It is the season of Exultation. That is why we hear 'Hallelujah' in the liturgy. Rejoice because Jesus is the Light. We are joyful because we are redeemed from sin. We are rescued from death. That is why to those who attended the Easter Vigil mass, we are shown the history of salvation from the Book of Genesis, hanggang sa pagdating ng ating Panginoon. Kung gusto n'yong lalong maintindihan how it is to be rescued or redeemed, magpa-kidnap kayo (laughs) nang malaman ninyo. Imagine the joy of being rescued and being freed. It feels good to be safe, to be redeemed. Kung napanood ninyo 'yong Life of Pi, he was in a shipwreck at ganoon na lang ang katuwaan niya, nang siya ay naligtas, after months of being marooned in the sea.

Next is letter A which means Acceptance of Jesus and S is for Salvation. Bakit? Kung hindi natin tinatanggap ang kaligtasan ng ating Panginoon, balewala ang lahat ng ginawa Niya para sa atin, tama ba? Kaya nga sabi ni St. Augustine, "God who has created us without us, cannot save us without us." Samakatuwid, salvation is not automatic. We have to accept God's promise of salvation. Kinakailangang tinatanggap natin ang ating Panginoon sa ating buhay, at sa ating bahay. Kapag tinanggap natin ang Panginoon, we should surrender to Him. Our response is to take off the old self, and take on the new self. There should be transformation in our every day life. 'Yan ang nagpapatunay ng ating pagtanggap sa ating Panginoon.

Letter T is for Thanksgiving. Natutuwa tayo at nagagalak tayo because God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son. The celebration of last week - the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord, proves that God really loves us. Don't you feel good about it? We are all very important, VIPs, valuable, more than precious and special. We are loved and we are worth dying for.

I had a friend who had a kidney transplant. So I asked him, "Pamilya mo ba ang nagbigay ng kidney sa iyo?" Sabi niya, "Hindi, dahil hindi match." At alam n'yo kung sino ang nagbigay ng kidney sa kanya? 'Yong kanyang kaibigan. And so I just said, "There is no greater love than this, that a man may give this kidney to you." Don't you think na gano'n na lamang ang pasasalamat niya sa nagbigay ng kidney sa kanya? Because of that kidney, he was given a new lease in life. Salamat.

My dear friends, namatay si Kristo para sa inyo. Now...sulit ba? Sulit? Sana naman. Thank you Lord. Pero dapat sana maging sulit, kung hindi ay sayang naman na nagdanak Siya ng dugo para sa atin.

The next letter E is for Evangelization. That means that our gift is not just a gift, but a responsibility. Dapat ay ibalita natin ito at i-share natin. Let us go and tell. When the disciples saw Jesus, they decided to share their experience. They gave testimony that truly, Jesus has risen from the dead. Ganoon din dapat tayo. Dapat ay ibinabahagi natin ang ating pananampalataya lalong lalo na sa Year of Faith na ito.

Finally, ang bunga ng lahat ng ito ay walang iba kundi pagbabago o Renewal. Kaya sabi ni St.Paul, "Since then you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."

My dear friends, sana naman, sa lahat ng mga ginawa natin, sa lahat ng mga pagdiriwang, ay sulit naman ang paghihirap at ang kamatayan ng Panginoon. The challenge for us is this. Na sana tayo ay maging karapat-dapat, na tayo ay maging tapat sa ating Panginoon. Na ang bawat isa sa atin ay maging liwanag ni Kristo, sa ating buhay at sa ating bahay. 'Yan ang hamon para sa atin. At the end of the day, at the twilight of our lives, sana naman, pagbalik natin sa Panginoon ay masasabi natin na talagang wala tayong regrets dahil tayo ay naging mabuti at naging maayos at matuwid ang ating buhay dahil sa Kanyang ginawa para sa atin.

Gospel Reflection

April 07, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Easter Season

Second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday

by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (Mission Society of St. Paul  – Quezon City)

MSSP House Chapel / Mass for the poor)

                         

Reading 1 Acts 5:12-16

Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R. (1) Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus. I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said, “Write on a scroll what you see.” Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.

When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.”

Gospel Jn 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

HOMILY

When the risen Jesus appeared to his apostles, we notice that he still bore the wounds of his crucifixion on his glorified body.  Why was this? Why did not he remove the holes in his transformed body?   I wish to share with you a story I read some time ago which may give us a clue to the answer.  

A single mother, who lives in New York, in a period of six years saw her three sons shot dead, the youngest of them right in front of her door. It has left a deep wound in her heart.  Whenever  a child in the  neighborhood is killed, she relives her grief again.

Yet she has refused to be trapped by fear and depression. Instead, she has reached out to others. She has become an powerful advocate for gun control.  She goes in schools and other places to talk against guns and violence. She also started a support group for mothers in similar positions. And when a child dies, she visits the parents to comfort them.

She says that in the beginning she wished her sons had never been born. But now she says, "in their deaths there is sorrow, but there is also some unbelievable joy. If I had not had my three sons, I would not be the kind of person I am today. They help me to be strong. They help me not to be selfish.'

The door of her house still bears the marks of the bullets which killed her youngest son. Why doesn't she have the door repaired? 'I want those holes to be a constant reminder that a young man lost his life at that spot. When you fix things, people tend to forget.'

When you fix things, people tend to forget. Maybe that is why Jesus kept the marks of his wounds on his risen body.

Those wounds were the proof of his love. Jesus didn't just talk about love but gave an example of it, and had the wounds to prove it.  They are the wounds the Good Shepherd who suffered in defending his flock from the wolf.

When we see, we remember... When we see the wounds on the resurrected Christ, we remember of his saving love... we remember that love wins evil... and hopefully when we see we also get rid of the doubts and believe like Thomas.

Moreover, the wounds of Jesus help us to come to terms with our own wounds.  All of us get hurt... in the past and also in the present. Many times there is a tendency to hide our wounds, because of the belief that if we show our weakness people will not respect us anymore. However, those who don't cover up their own struggles, and who live through them, give hope to others.

Wanda Butts an Afro-American who lost her 16 year old son Josh drowned in a lake,  started a project to teach people how to swim (started first with herself being taught) she already helped more than 1,000 children in Ohio learn how to swim.  Her pain and wounds caused by the death of her son became the source of strength and love for others.

This is our mission:  to convert our weakness and our wounds into strength, and to offer our own experience as a source of healing to others.  You where once  dead-poor but managed to find a way to live, don’t hide it but help others to overcome their poverty.

You experienced violence when you were young... don’t cover it, accept the cruelty of  it and ... help others who are passing through it.

Show your wounds like Jesus...they will become the source of hope, strength and faith to others.

Gospel Reflection

April 06, 2013

Saturday– Year of Faith – Easter Season

First Saturday of the Month – In the Octave of Easter

by Rev.  Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

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

                         

Reading 1 Acts 4:13-21

Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus. Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply. So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying, “What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it. But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.”

So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.

Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21

R. (21a) I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Mk 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, when the disciples heard that Jesus was alive and had been seen by Mary Magdalene, they did not believe.

For one week, we listen to Gospels where people saw and met Jesus Himself in his Risen body. In our Gospel today, the disciples did not see Jesus but only witnesses have reported to them, and so those who were listening did not believe.

We cannot believe if we do not see or meet Jesus in deep faith. But there is a way to see Jesus, and that is through the sacraments. It is through the sacraments that Jesus gives Himself to us. It is very hard when we are evangelizing. We think that it is very hard to bring Jesus to others, when, in fact, it is so easy to bring Jesus to the people. Amen.  

Gospel Reflection

April 05, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Easter Season

First Friday of the Month – In the Octave of Easter

by Fr. Dominador “Domie” G. Guzman Jr. (Society of Saint Paul)

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

                         

Reading 1 Acts 4:1-12

After the crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They laid hands on Peter and John and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word came to believe and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a

R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Jn 21:1-14

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

HOMILY

Pagkatapos po ng 40 days na Kuwaresma, ng ating paghahanda, at pagkatapos ng isang linggong Semana Santa kung saan ay ginunita natin ang Pasyon ng Panginoon, last Sunday, we celebrated Easter, ang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ng Panginoon. At ito pong Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ay ise-celebrate natin for 50 days. Sa loob ng 50 days, longer than Kuwaresma, itong malaking kandilang ito na simbulo ng muling pagkabuhay ng Panginoon ay mananatili sa altar, at sisindihan sa bawat misa. The last day of Easter, 50 days after Easter Sunday, is going to be Pentecost Sunday.
Sa loob ng 50 days na ito, itong unang linggo mula po noong Easter Sunday hanggang sa darating na Linggo o bukas ng gabi, ang bisperas ng Unang Linggo ng Easter, na kung tawagin natin ngayon ay Divine Mercy Sunday, itong unang linggong ito ng Easter ay tinatawag nating Octave. Have you ever asked or tried to find out why it is called Octave Easter? Bakit may kakaibang pangalan ang unang linggong ito pagkatapos po ng Easter Sunday? Ang eksplanasyon po ay simple. Itong buong linggong ito, we call it the Octave of Easter, because every day, ang bawat ebanghelyong binabasa natin sa bawat misa ay ibinabalik tayo sa first day of the week, which is Easter Sunday. Maraming naganap noong maghapon na iyon ng Easter Sunday na nakatala sa apat na Ebanghelyo na hindi natin pwedeng sabay sabaying basahin lahat sa isang hapon o isang umaga ng Easter Sunday. And so the Church in the Liturgy has made it a point that for eight days, whether it is Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or now it is Friday of the Easter Octave, it is still Easter Sunday. Ang Ebanghelyo pa rin ay tungkol sa mga naganap sa first day of the week, which is Easter Sunday. Kaya nga po sa buong linggong ito ay kailangan pa rin nating awitin ang Gloria.
Ano po ba ang halaga ng mga kwentong ito ng Easter Sunday? I think, my dear friends, hindi lamang kwento ito tungkol sa naganap sa Panginoon, kundi it is actually in Easter that we begin to realize that it is the Lord - si Hesus ay hindi lamang si Hesukristo, kundi siya ang Panginoong Hesukristo. It is the Lord, sabi nga po ni St. John sa Gospel po natin ngayon. The Lordship of Jesus happens in Easter time. Dito, dahan-dahang napagtanto ng mga unang alagad na si Kristo ay hindi isang karaniwang propeta, kundi isang Propeta at Mesiyas na kaisa ng pagka-Diyos ng Ama.
Alam n'yo po, ibang iba ang Resurrection ng Panginoon. Marami ang mga pinaghimalaan ng Diyos na muling nabuhay na patay. Si Lazaro, 'yong anak ni Jairo, 'yong anak ng isang balo sa Naim. Pero ibang iba po ang Resurrection ng Panginoon. Si Lazaro at ang iba pang binuhay sa kamatayan, were still subject to the law of death. Namatay pa rin sila pagkatapos. Si Kristo sa Kanyang muling pagkabuhay, sabi nga natin, death has no more power over Him. Ang Kanyang pagkabuhay ay isang pagkabuhay na tuloy tuloy. Kaya nga iba rin ang Kanyang naging katawan.
Napansin ba ninyo, hindi Siya agad nakilala ni Maria Magdalena, o ni Juan, o ni Pedro? Tignan n'yo nga 'yang katabi n'yo. Kung 'yan ay mawala ng tatlong araw, at muling makikita n'yo, makikilala n'yo ba? Natural, di ba? Wala namang malaking pagbabago eh. Pero si Hesus noong muling nabuhay on the third day, hindi agad nakilala sapagkat sabi nila, He was having the glorified body. 'Yong katawan na hindi na mamamatay. Sabi nila ang katawang 'yon ay katawang binuhay ng Diyos at its best, at the prime of life.
Eh tignan n'yo 'yang katabi n'yo. Pag nagkita kayo sa langit, hindi ganyan ang mukha niyan. Hindi n'yo 'yan makikilala, kasi ang Resurrection sa ngalan ni Hesus, is a Resurrection in the prime of life. Kaya nga sabi ko, "Hay salamat, magkakabuhok uli ako." (laughs) So 'yong mga nasa langit, que namatay ka nang 80 years old o namatay ka nang 95 or 75 o 13 years old, lahat magmumukhang guwapo at bata, ano? Isipin n'yo kung 95 ka namatay, tapos bubuhayin ka, 95 din ang mukha mo (laughs)...di ba lugi yata. Eh di mabuti pang mamatay ka nang 13 years old. So the glorified body is something different.
But brothers and sisters, what I think is very important for us to learn. Mula dito sa ating Ebanghelyo ngayon, paano ba finally nakapagsabi 'yong mga disciples that it is the Lord, na si Hesus nga ito, ang Panginoon? Sabi nga ni John, it is the Lord. Meron pong dalawang nakitang katangian ang mga alagad nang makita nila si Hesus sa kwento ng ating Ebanghelyo ngayon.
Ang setting po ng Ebanghelyo ay ang Sea of Galilee na kung tawagin kung minsan ay Sea of Tiberias sa wikang Latin, at Sea of Gennesaret. Iisang lugar lang 'yon. 'Yon po ang lake sa Norte ng Israel. Doon kalimitang nangisda, tumawid, nagbangka si Hesus at ang Kanyang mga alagad. Doon bumalik si Pedro. At ano ang sabi ni Pedro? "I am going out to fish." Ano ang ibig sabihin noon mga kapatid? Sabi niya sa mga kasama niyang alagad, "Wala na. Tapos na. Lugi tayo sa taya. Balik tayo sa pangingisda." Tatlong taon nilang iniwan ang pangingisda, ang kanilang mga nets, ang kanilang mga bangka. Namuhunan sila kay Hesus kasi akala nila, pag si Hesus ay dumating sa Herusalem at naging hari, isa sa kanan, isa sa kaliwa ang uupo. Kaya sabi ni Pedro, "Wala na mga kapatid. Balik tayo sa pangingisda."
Nakita n'yo? Pati 'yong mga isda, hindi nagpakita sa kanila. Nakuha 'yong kanilang negative vibes, 'no? Tingnan n'yo 'yang katabi n'yo. Negative ba 'yan? (laughs) Di ba ramdam mo 'yan kapag negative vibes, kahit malayo pa? 'Yong mga isda alam nila negative vibes sila Pedro. Down na down, kaya wala silang nakitang isda magdamag. But this was the first mark that they saw. Pagdating ni Hesus, nag-iba lahat. Hindi lang dumami ang huli, kundi mukhang umaliwalas ang kanilang pakiramdam.
Many times in that lake of Galilee, ganoon din ang ginawa ni Hesus sa kanila. Sa gitna ng bagyo na akala nila ay lulubog na sila, nagpakitang naglalakad sa tubig si Hesus, at nabuhayan sila ng loob. The very first indication that the disciples realized it is the Lord is that they saw that this Man who was there with them, is a bringer of power and hope. Kapangyarihan at pag-asa ang Kanyang dala.
Pero maliban do'n, nabuhayan uli sila, because secondly, pagbalik sa pangpang, walang pinagbago. Siya pa rin ang nagluto, Siya pa rin ang naghain, Siya pa rin ang nag-anyaya ng almusal. Jesus remains to be the servant. The servant who is powerful, ano po? Hindi ba noong Huwebes Santo, 'yon ang halimbawang binigay ni Hesus sa kanila. Hinugasan ang kanilang paa. Ito ang naging indikasyon nila upang sabihing si Hesus nga ito. Walang kaduda-duda. He brings power and hope, and yet, He continues to be a humble servant.
Brothers and sisters, tayong mga Kristiyano ay bininyagan sa ngalan ni Hesus na muling nabuhay. Dapat, 'yan din ang laman ng buhay natin. Unang-una, na tayo ay maging tagapagdala ng pag-asa at kapangyarihan sa buhay ng iba. Easter does not remove the wounds, the sickness. Nakita n'yo itong Paschal Candle na ito. Ano'ng meron? Huh? May apoy - simbulo ng bagong buhay. Pero tignan n'yo. nakatusok pa rin ang limang pako, simbulo ng pinagpakuan. Hindi po nagpa-derma si Kristo. Hindi Niya inalis ang mga bakas ng pako upang sabihin sa atin, "Easter does not mean no more tears, no more sickness, no more pain." Hindi. Nandiyan pa rin 'yan. Pero kung talagang Easter people tayo, we will be like Jesus, bringers of hope to other people's lives and to ours. Pero maliban diyan, tulad ni Kristo, sana'y patuloy tayong humble servants of the Lord.
I was praying over this, this morning kasi alam n'yo ho, itong buong linggong ito ay special din sa akin. Last April 3, exactly last April 3, I celebrated my 25 years as a priest, ano? (applause) Easter Sunday 'yon noon. April 3, 1988 was an Easter Sunday. At tandang tanda ko 'yong sinabi ni Bishop Bacani, sapagkat siya ang nag-ordain sa amin. Ang sabi niya, "Sana tagapagdala kayo ng Easter. You should be witnesses of Easter, yayamang inordinahan kayo sa Easter." Iniisip ko - how am I a witness of Easter? Bringer of hope nga ba ako?
And I realized, totoo. Ang isang pari, hindi naman sinusolusyonan lahat eh. Kung minsan, wala ka ring magawa. Uupo ka lang, makikinig, isang oras itatapon lahat sa iyo ang lahat ng sama ng loob ng taong nagkukuwento. Pagkatapos iiwan ka at sasabihin sa 'yo, "Father, thank you, I feel better." (laughs) Tapunan ng basura. Wala naman akong ginawa kundi makining, ngumiti, kumuha ng panyo, magpahid ng konting luha kung nakakaluha ang kwento. But I think that's how you bring hope to people. You just let them be able to see the energy to move on.
Pero pangalawa, sabi ko, bringer of hope, but you continue to be a servant. Nangiti ako, sabi ko, yes. I hope I will be that way. Kaya hanggang ngayon, masaya pa rin akong nagtataxi. Pumipila, nakikipag-unahan sa MRT. Masaya kasi naririnig mo lahat ng kwento ng mga tao. Hindi naman nila ako kilalang pari eh. Pag umupo na ako sa MRT, mukha akong pulis. (laughs) Lahat ng mura, lahat ng problema ng taong nakapalibot, rinig ko. Ngumingiti lang ako. Sabi ko, ahh....ganito pala. Ganito pa rin ang buhay. You can never be a servant kung malayo ka sa realidad.
Brothers and sisters, sana gano'n din tayo. Let us always be servants, wherever we are, and bringers of hope. And may the joy of Easter shine in us. Amen.