Gospel Reflection

June 07, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

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 Ez 34:11-16

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the foreign lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel in the land's ravines and all its inhabited places. In good pastures will I pasture them, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing ground. There they shall lie down on good grazing ground, and in rich pastures shall they be pastured on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6.

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2 Rom 5:5b-11

Brothers and sisters: The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Gospel Lk 15:3-7

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,  'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."  

HOMILY

At today's Feast of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are provided with the Gospel of St. Luke. And in the Gospel of St. Luke, we will find some peculiar passages. We can find the three parables which you can only find in the Gospel of Luke. The parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the prodigal son.

The very central message of our Gospel is that, our God is a God of mercy and tenderness. Our God is a God of a million chances - a God who gives second chances, a God who calls also the sinners, not only the righteous. But why is it that St. Luke came up with the great parables, which gives the same message that God is a God of a million chances? Isn't it already redundant for St. Luke to mention the three parables with the same message?

Theologians say that the three parables depict the Blessed Trinity. The parable of the prodigal son talks about God the loving Father who created us, who is so extravagant in loving us, who lavishes us with great love. The parable of the lost sheep, which we heard today, talks about the Good Shepherd, who is none other than Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity. And the parable of the lost coin - of a woman who is assiduously searching for it - talks about the Holy Spirit. So for St. Luke, he is talking of a God of a million chances, yes, a God of tenderness and mercy, but taking into consideration the role of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

So, napakahalaga po ng kapiyestahang ito, because we talk about the heart of Jesus. Sino po sa inyo ang nakakita na ng shape of the human heart? Nakakita na po ba kayo ng puso ng tao? Gusto n'yong makakita ngayon? Sino po ang gustong mag-volunteer (laughs) na magpabukas ng puso para makita natin ang shape of the human heart? The shape of the human heart is not complete. It's not a perfect one. Bakit po kaya? God made it so, so that we can reach out to Him. Ang tunay daw pong kaligayahan ay kapag ang puso natin at ang puso ng Diyos ay nagkaisa. That is total peace. That is total joy. Kaya ang tao, hanap nang hanap ng kabiyak kung saan-saan. Sa pera, sa kapangyarihan, sa materyal na bagay. But the reality is only God can fill up the gaping emptiness that we are experiencing. Ang Diyos lamang po ang magpupuno ng lahat ng ating pagkukulang, sapagkat Siya ang pinanggagalingan ng lahat ng bagay.

The heart of God is so big, so huge, that He embraces all of us. Not only the saints, not only the righteous, not only the religious, but even the irreligious, even the sinners. Look at the Gospels. We talk about Jesus calling, not the perfect disciples. Jesus calls Mary Magdalene. Jesus calls Dimas, the first canonized saint, who is a thief. Pero ito po ang larawan ng Diyos. Hindi mahalaga sa Diyos ang ating mga pagkakamali. Mahalaga para sa Kanya ang ating pagbabalik-loob.

Our Gospel for today talks about the heart of Jesus. Paano po ba magmahal ang Diyos? Pagmamahal po ba ng tao? Ang pagmamahal ng tao ay may kondisyon. Di po ba? I love you, if.....I will love you if you will fill my pocket. No visa, no money, no honey. (laughs) I love you means I love your dollar account. I love you because you are handsome, you are sexy. Eh paano kung hindi ka na handsome, kundi handsama na ng mukha mo? (laughs) Paano kundi ka na sexy, kundi siksik, liglig at puro bilbil na? (laughs)

But the love of Jesus is so different. It's not 'I love you, if...', it's not 'I love you because....'. The love of Jesus says, 'I love you, in spite of all your shortcomings.' Mahal ka ng Diyos, sa kabila ng lahat.

Do you honestly believe that God loves you? (people say 'yes') Do you feel and believe that God loves you, in spite of all your problems, your sickness? (people say 'yes') That is what we are celebrating today - the love of Jesus that is so powerful that it can change our lives, only if we accept Jesus into our hearts.

Alam po ninyo, I have discovered the five 'mits' of healing. Number one - you admit that only God can heal you. Second, you permit the heart of Jesus to be the most important consideration in your life. Third, after permitting, you submit to the heart of Jesus, to the reign of God, which is the reign of love. And then after submitting, you commit your life totally to the Lord, in loving service. But it is not complete. After committing, you are called to transmit. See the five 'mits' of healing? This is what we need to do, just like the Lord. He is looking for us. He is running after us. He is always searching for us. At kapag tayo'y natagpuan Niya, masaya tayong ilalagay sa Kanyang balikat. At hindi lamang Siya magsasaya. Tatawagin pa Niya ang Kanyang mg kapitbahay at sasabihin Niya, "Ito ang nawawala Kong tupa, siya'y namatay at muling nabuhay."

That's the joy of God, looking for all of us, and finding one of us. What is being highlighted in our Gospel is the importance of all of us. Mahalaga tayo sa Diyos, kahit isa sa atin. Napakahalaga ng pagbabalik-loob ng isang taong makasalanan.That is important to the Lord. The heart of Jesus is so huge, so big, to accommodate us, to welcome us, for He is a God of a million chances.

May the Holy Mass inspire all of us to come back to the Lord and to renew our life, so that we may be able to admit that there is something wrong with us, and that only God can heal us, and we permit Jesus' heart to be our own heart. And then we submit our heart to the heart of Jesus - ready to love, ready to sacrifice. And then we commit to the Kingdom of God, so that we will be able to transmit the Word of God and the healing that God has given us. May this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus inspire our hearts to always bleed for the love of Jesus and all people. Sana po ang puso natin ay maging kamukha, kawangis ng puso ni Hesus - handang magmahal, magpatawad at umunawa sa ating kapwa, katulad ng puso ni Hesus. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel Reflection

June 07, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

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

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

Reading 1 Ez 34:11-16

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the foreign lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel in the land's ravines and all its inhabited places. In good pastures will I pasture them, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing ground. There they shall lie down on good grazing ground, and in rich pastures shall they be pastured on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6.

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2 Rom 5:5b-11

Brothers and sisters: The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Gospel Lk 15:3-7

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,  'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."  

HOMILY

The parables have very common characteristics. They start with an experience which the hearer is very familiar with. But then something happens, which changes his mindset or attitude.

This is similar to our Gospel Reading. Sino kaya ang isang pastol na iiwanan ang kanyang siyamnapu't siyam na tupa para lamang hanapin ang isang nawawala? Dito ay nakita natin ang isang larawan o imahen ng Diyos na nagmamahal. Sasabihin ng ibang mga pastol, ok lang na mawala ang isa, meron pa naman silang siyamnapu't siyam. But then in our image of God as a good Shepherd, as we celebrate today the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we see a God who cares. Mayroon Siyang pagkalinga. Mayroon Siyang pagbibigay ng tunay na pag-ibig.

At one point in our lives, all of us get lost with our sinfulness. But no matter what those sins are, kahit na gaanong kabigat ang lahat ng ating mga kasalanan, sinasabi sa atin ni Hesus ngayon, 'Hahanapin Ko kayo....I will find you, and I will bring you home to the Father."

So, on this Feast of the Sacred Heart, God is asking us for a conversion of our hearts. Sinasabi Niya sa atin, 'Talikdan n'yo ang inyong mga kasalanan dahil ang pagmamahal Ko ang inaalay Ko. Ito ang tunay na magbibigay sa inyo ng kaligayahan - ang pakikipagkaisa sa Akin, ang pagbabalik-loob sa Akin....Pero tandaan n'yo ito. Kahit na ano ang inyong kasalanan, kahit na kayo ang pinaka-makasalanang tao sa buong daigdig, hahanapin at hahanapin Ko kayo, dahil ganoon Ko kayo kamahal. Ibabalik Ko kayo sa tahanan ng Diyos Ama.'

My dear brothers and sisters, this is the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ. He loves us, He understands us, He forgives our sins. And that is the start of healing. Let us pray, as we celebrate this day of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, for a transformation of our hearts. Because deeply, God cares. Let us celebrate the great love of God for us. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

June 06, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

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

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

Reading 1 Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a

When the angel Raphael and Tobiah had entered Media and were getting close to Ecbatana, Raphael said to the boy, “Tobiah, my brother!” He replied: “Here I am!” He said: “Tonight we must stay with Raguel, who is a relative of yours. He has a daughter named Sarah.”

So he brought him to the house of Raguel, whom they found seated by his courtyard gate. They greeted him first. He said to them, “Greetings to you too, brothers! Good health to you, and welcome!” And he brought them into his home.

Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and gave them a cordial reception. When they had bathed and reclined to eat, Tobiah said to Raphael, “Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to let me marry my kinswoman Sarah.” Raguel overheard the words; so he said to the boy: “Eat and drink and be merry tonight, for no man is more entitled to marry my daughter Sarah than you, brother. Besides, not even I have the right to give her to anyone but you, because you are my closest relative. But I will explain the situation to you very frankly. I have given her in marriage to seven men, all of whom were kinsmen of ours, and all died on the very night they approached her. But now, son, eat and drink. I am sure the Lord will look after you both.” Tobiah answered, “I will eat or drink nothing until you set aside what belongs to me.”

Raguel said to him: “I will do it. She is yours according to the decree of the Book of Moses. Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven! Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her love, and she is your beloved. She is yours today and ever after. And tonight, son, may the Lord of heaven prosper you both. May he grant you mercy and peace.”  Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him. He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobiah with the words: “Take her according to the law. According to the decree written in the Book of Moses she is your wife. Take her and bring her back safely to your father. And may the God of heaven grant both of you peace and prosperity.” Raguel then called Sarah’s mother and told her to bring a scroll, so that he might draw up a marriage contract stating that he gave Sarah to Tobiah as his wife according to the decree of the Mosaic law. Her mother brought the scroll, and Raguel drew up the contract, to which they affixed their seals.

Afterward they began to eat and drink. Later Raguel called his wife Edna and said, “My love, prepare the other bedroom and bring the girl there.” She went and made the bed in the room, as she was told, and brought the girl there. After she had cried over her, she wiped away the tears and said: “Be brave, my daughter. May the Lord grant you joy in place of your grief. Courage, my daughter.” Then she left.

When the girl’s parents left the bedroom and closed the door behind them, Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife, “My love, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance.” She got up, and they started to pray and beg that deliverance might be theirs. And they began to say:

“Blessed are you, O God of our fathers, praised be your name forever and ever. Let the heavens and all your creation praise you forever. You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the human race descended. You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a partner like himself.’ Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”

They said together, “Amen, amen,” and went to bed for the night.

Responsorial Psalm PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (see 1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
Blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

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 other day, the junior, or the young clergy of the Archdiocese of Manila in which I belong had an audience with Cardinal Tagle and he shared with us this anecdote. May lumapit daw pong parokyano sa kanya at sinabi, "Your Eminence, palitan n'yo na 'yong aming parish priest. Kasi ang labo-labo niya mag-Homily. Walang linaw, magulo." Tapos sabi ni Cardinal in defense of the priest, "Eh gano'n naman po kasi ang tunay na nangyayari ngayon sa daigdig. Dapat ang Ebanghelyo ay sinasalamin 'yong tunay na pangyayari sa ating mundo sa kasalukuyan. Tingnan n'yo po ang ating mundo - magulo, walang linaw, at ang labo-labo ng mga nangyayari."

My dear brothers and sisters, our world is a changing world. Our world is full of uncertainties and doubts. And when you look at the way we perceive things, the way the world is being run right now, and our attitude toward what is happening, you will have this feeling of fear. One famous Russian novelist who was put into exile was reflecting on how his country, Russia, a country of great and rich cultural heritage, has gone into barbarism, when the communist took over. He saw all the atrocities at lahat ng paghihirap na ginawa ng mga sundalo sa kanilang mga exiles. Sabi niya, 'What has happened to this great country?' And upon reflection, he came up with his conclusion and that is because men have forgotten God.

Nakalimutan na ng tao ang Diyos. But it is also very heartening that, on the contrary, a lot of corporations are now asking the church for recollections and retreats. One top honcho of a large company said, "We would like to put God back into the board room." Nakalimutan na natin ang Diyos. Hindi na natin Siya pinag-uusapan sa ordinaryo nating pag-uusap. We talk about a lot of things and ideas, but when we are already outside the church, outside the liturgical celebrations, do we talk of God? Pinag-uusapan ba natin 'yong mga experiences natin tungkol sa Diyos, o pag lumabas na tayo ng simbahan, nakalimutan na rin natin ang Diyos?

The Jews of old would say this simple prayer in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night, before they go to bed. "The Lord our God is Lord alone." And that is the key to loving God and our neighbor - remembering that God is Lord alone. Wala nang ibang Diyos. Kaya't kung uunahin natin Siya sa ating buhay, putting our best time, energy and effort in praising and thanking God even for the little things that are blessed to us, then we will always remember that loving God is loving our neighbors. Amen.