Gospel Reflection

July 27, 2013

Saturday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Rey Reyes (Society of St. Paul)

12;15PM Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

Reading 1 Ex 24:3-8

When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us.” Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the children of Israel to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15

R. (14a) Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Gospel Mt 13:24-30

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

HOMILY

Ang mensahe po ng ating banal na Ebanghelyo ay may kaugnayan sa ating mga para-paraan o attitude patungkol sa mga taong nagbibigay sa atin ng mga pasakit, ng mga problema at sakit ng ulo. Inaanyayahan tayo ng ating banal na Ebanghelyo na pag-aralan ang ating mga pag-uugali at ang ating ginagawa, at tingnan natin kung nakatutulong sa atin ang ating mga pamamaraan.

Alam po ninyo, ang nagiging isang malaking problema natin ngayon ay ang maiksing pasensiya ng mga tao ngayon. Sinasabi po na dati nang itinuturo ng mga matatanda na kapag ang isang tao ay tumatanda at lalong nagkaka-edad, ay lalong dapat humaba ang kanyang pasensiya at pang-unawa. Dahil mas marami siyang alam na ngayon, at meron na siyang paghuhugutan ng kanyang kaalaman. 'Yon dapat, eh. Na habang tayo ay nagkaka-edad, humahaba ang ating pasensiya at pang-unawa. Eh kabaligtaran po ang nangyayari sa kasalukuyan. Napaka-igsi at umiigsi nang umiigsi ang pasensiya natin sa ating kapwa. Maski na sa ating mga kasama sa bahay, sa kapamilya. Napakaigsi ng ating pasensiya.

At ito po ang punto ng ating banal na Ebanghelyo. Narinig natin sa ating Ebanghelyo ang utos ng may-ari ng taniman, nang i-report sa kanya na may mga masasamang damo na tumubong kasama ng mga trigo. Ayon sa suggestion ng mga magbubukid ay kailangang bunutin na, tanggalin na kaagad ang mga damo. Subalit ang sabi ng may-ari, 'Huwag ninyong bubunutin at baka sa pagbunot ninyo'y mapahamak ang mga trigo. Hayaan na natin sila sapagkat darating naman ang tama at takdang panahon kung ano ang dapat na maging aksiyon para sa mga ganoong bagay." Kaya't dito natin kukunin ang mahalagang mensahe ng Ebanghelyo - sa utos ng may-ari. Hayaan muna nating sila ay lumaki sapagkat darating din ang takdang araw at panahon na tinatawag na reckoning o pagtutuos at pagbibigay ng tamang hakbang na dapat gawin. Kaya maliwanag po ito sa atin, mga kapatid. Ipa-alala natin sa ating sarili na tayo ay dapat na maging laging mapagpasensiya.

Meron po talagang mga tao sa ating buhay na uubos ng ating pasensiya. Merong mga taong talagang kontrabida sa ating buhay. May kokontra't kokontra talaga sa atin, na kina-iinis naman natin. At 'yong mga taong 'yon, ayaw nating makasama. Meron talagang mga taong nagpapasakit ng ating ulo. Asawa mo man, o anak mo. Ang problema, lumiliit nang lumiliit ang pang-unawa at ang pasensiya ng tao. Siguro mga kapatid, kung hindi rin lang kasalanan ang pumatay, siguro meron na tayong napatay, (laughs) dahil ngayon sa mundong ito, pag ayaw natin ng tao, gusto natin mawala kaagad sa landas natin ang mga ganitong uri ng tao at wala tayong pakialam sa mga taong ang dulot sa atin ay problema at sakit ng ulo.

Kung bakit dumadami ang bilang ng mag-asawang naghihiwalay, ito rin ang dahilan - ayaw na nilang pagpasensiyahan ang kanilang asawa. Hindi na nila hahayaang magdusa sila sa mahabang panahon kung ganito rin lamang ang kanilang asawa. Sa mga mag-asawang naririto, kung kailan kayo tumatagal sa pagsasama, dapat ay lalo kayong magpasensiya sa bawat isa.

Maski din naman sa mg anak, ay napaka-igsi din ng pasensiya ng mga magulang para sa kanilang mga anak. Kaya naman ang mga anak ay nagre-rebelde, lumalayo at gumagawa ng mga bagay na pinagsisisihan nila habang buhay. May mga anak din naman na nawawalan na ng pasensiya sa kanilang mga magulang, lalo na kung maysakit at alagain na. Ang reklamo ng mga anak ay matigas ang ulo at hindi sumusunod ang kanilang mga magulang. Eh sino ba naman ang magpapasensiya sa mga magulang, kundi iyong mga anak? Alangan namang ibang tao pa ang umintindi sa inyong magulang. Kung sino man ang dapat umunawa, umintindi at magpasensiya, mismo ang mga anak dapat.

Huwag sana mangyari dito sa ating bayan ang nangyayari sa ibang bansa, na kapag may sakit na ang magulang, dinadala na sa nursing home o sa home-for-the-aged, at bahala na sila doon. Doon mo makikita na talagang walang tiyaga at hindi magtitiyaga ang mga anak sa kanilang magulang. Ayan. Huwag sanang mangyari 'yan, sapagkat hindi 'yan ang tatak Pinoy. Ang tatak Pinoy ay mapagmahal, mapagpasensiya at mapang-unawa. Hind natin kultura ang taong walang pasensiya sa kapwa.

Sa buhay natin, meron din naman talagang mga taong taong hindi tayo kursunada. May mga taong ayaw sa atin. Merong mga taong naiinggit sa atin, na kahit wala tayong ginagawa, sila ay inis at galit sa atin. Na kahit ano'ng gawin natin, meron talagang mga taong ayaw sa atin. Wala tayong magagawa. Hindi natin mapipigil ang mga taong ganyan. Kaya nga, ayon sa ating banal na Ebanghelyo, habaan natin ang ating pang-unawa at pasensiya.

Kaya po mga kapatid, napakaliwanag ng mensahe ng banal na Ebanghelyo sa ating lahat. Tayo po'y maging mapagpasensiya at mapag-unawa. Laliman natin ang ating pang-unawa. Hindi tayo basta-basta huhusga o kaya ay magko-condemn. Hanapan na muna natin ng dahilan kung bakit ganito ang tao na nakapaligid sa atin. Dahil pag hindi tayo natuto nang tama at magandang paraan, sarili din natin ang ating pahihirapan. Pag hindi tayo marunong humarap sa ganitong situwasyon, pag hindi tayo marunong magpasensiya at umunawa, tayo din ang mahihirapan at parurusahan natin ang ating sarili, dahil may mga taong hindi natin basta-bastang pwedeng alisin sa ating buhay.

Papaano kung ang magulang mo ang dapat mong pagpasensiyahan? Di mo pwedeng basta na lang idispatcha ang magulang mo. Papaano kung ang anak mo ang dapat mong intindihan at unawain at pagpasensiyahan? Hindi mo pwedeng palayasin 'yan dahil anak mo 'yan. Hindi mo pwedeng palayasin ang mga tao sa bahay mo, maski ang katulong mo, dahil lamang sa hindi makuha ang sinasabi mo. Hindi lahat ng ididikta mo ay makukuha o malalaman kaagad.

Kaya mga kapatid, simplehan lamang natin ang buhay. Huwag na nating pahirapan ang ating sarili. Pagandahin natin ang takbo ng ating buhay. Matuto tayo ng tamang paraan sa mga ganitong uri ng tao, dahil nandiyan sila at hindi mawawala. Kung matuto tayo ng tama at magandang paraan, mabubuhay ka pa rin tayo nang maayos at tatahimik ang lahat. Tayo ay sumunod sa iniuutos ng ating Panginoon, na tayo ay maging mapag-unawa, mapag-intindi at mapagpasensiya sa ating kapwa. Pagpalain tayo ng Poong Maykapal.

Gospel Reflection

July 26, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Rev. Fr. Jomar Burgos, LRMS - Dean of Seminarians and Vocation Director, Lorenzo Mission Institute
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Megamall Chapel)

 

FIRST READING          Ecclesiasticus 44:1, 10-15

Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time: These were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten; Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants; Through God's covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake. And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out; Their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on. At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM          Ps 132:11, 13-14, 17-18

R.(13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
The LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for his dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David;
I will place a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
but upon him my crown shall shine.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.


GOSPEL READING           Matthew 13:16-17

Jesus said to his disciples, "Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it".

HOMILY

If you notice, our Gospel has only two verses - it is very short. And in the first sentence of the Gospel, Jesus gave a message to His disciples. He said, "Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." Here, we may ask, is Jesus saying that we are blessed because we have eyes that see and ears that could hear? We all know that there are people who would have eyes, but unfortunately, they are physically blind, and could not see. And there are also people who have ears, but unfortunately, they are physically deaf, and could not hear. So is Jesus telling us na maswerte tayo dahil ang mata natin ay nakakakita at ang ating tenga ay nakakarinig?

Perhaps, it is not only that, that Jesus wants to tell us. Because it is a reality that people have eyes but it seems that they could not see. And there are also times when people have ears, but still they could not hear.

An example. If you have an enemy. Kung meron ho tayong kaaway at dumaan siya sa harap natin, pinapansin po ba natin siya? Minsan po ay parang wala tayong nakikita. Nilalampasan lang natin sila, kahit gaano pa kalaki 'yan. Wala tayong nakikita. Why? Because sometimes, we could see, but we could not really see well. Sometimes, our eyes and ears are becoming selective. Para po tayong namimili nang gusto lang nating makita o marinig. For example, kung ang isang tao ay may utang sa inyo, lalapit sa inyo at hihingi ng extension para mabayaran ang utang, kahit anong pakiusap o luhod ang gawin niya, kung ayaw nating makinig, wala rin pong mangyayari at hindi rin po tayo makapagbibigay ng extension. We are being selective. It's like we have filters in our eyes and ears.

Today, the Lord tells us that we have to learn how to see the presence and hear the needs of the people around us, specifically our parents and grandparents. And why do we say that? It is because today, we celebrate the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. And who are they? They are the parents of Mother Mary, and they are the grandparents of Jesus. Not much is known about them. Their names are not even written in the Bible, kaya hindi natin sila masyadong kilala. But we all know, based on the life of Mary, that they are good and righteous people. Kung ano po si Mary, 'yan po ang pagpapatunay kung paano siya pinalaki at kung anong klase ang kanyang magulang. Sometimes, if you want to know a person or what kind of parents a child has, makikita natin 'yan sa kanyang buhay, sa kanyang manners, kung paano siya pinalaki ng kanyang mga magulang.

Today, we are also called to really see the value and dignity of our parents and grandparents. We are reminded to hear and feel their presence in our lives. We must admit that we owe a lot to our parents and grandparents. When we were babies, kahit gaano kahimbing ang tulog ng ating mga parents, makarinig lang sila ng kaunting ingit sa atin, konting kilos, konting iyak, babangon po sila para tingnan tayo. Pero kahit na gaano kalakas ang tunog ng truck, wala silang pakialam, hindi sila nagigising diyan. Ngunit sa atin, dahil importante tayo sa kanila, konting kilos ay nagigising sila.

If I were to dictate a Grandparents' Day or a Parents' Day, it should be today. Ang nakakalungkot po, when we are already grown up, parang wala na tayong nakikita. Sometimes we do not even say 'hello' or 'how are you' to our parents and grandparents. Today, let's find time to thank our parents and grandparents. Kung wala po sila, malamang, wala rin po tayo ngayon. Now that we are old enough, let us show our love to our parents and grandparents. Let us respect them, let us appreciate them, especially for the love and support that they have given to us. Just like Mary and Joseph, may we be good children to our parents. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

July 25, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Feast Saint James, Apostle

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 2 Cor 4:7-15

Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6

R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Gospel Mt 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

HOMILY

One alumni of the Hamilton College in New York was invited to address the assembly during its centennial celebration. And the alumni began his memorable speech with these words: "I send my greetings to all my fellow alumni of Hamilton College scattered all throughout the world. Some of you are successes, some of you are failures. And only God knows which is which."

Our Gospel for today teaches us the measure of success and failure in our life. I remember when I was having my Theology in UST. My professor then, Bishop Bacani told us of a certain priest. When that priest was approached by the nuncio and was asked if he would be ready to accept the position of a bishop, the priest bowed down, took out from his pocket a skull cap, and said, "I expect." (laughs) He did not accept; he expected to be a bishop.

Some of us are born with ambitions. A lot of us have our dreams and aspirations. But when we compare ourselves to others, some of us might consider ourselves as successes, while some of us may consider ourselves as failures. What is the measure of success?

In my philosophy class, prior to graduation, we were asked to submit a thesis. And my thesis then was about mass media as an alternative for evangelization. My professors grilled me at that time and they told me, "Do you know how much it would cost to put up a radio or television program? You will be spending so much." And I just answered, "If I could only save one soul even for that one program where I will spend so much, then I will consider myself a success."

Jesus is telling us honestly that the Gospel does not cover the embarrassing attitude that the apostles have. The Gospel tells us a lot of truth and it speaks so much about the reality of our being created by God. We were created to serve, to love and to know God. Being a servant is being a slave. We are slaves to the truth; we are slaves to the Word of God that we must proclaim, not by mere words, but, more importantly, through our lives. When we are able to discover and live up what God has meant for each one of us, then that is the only time we can say that we are successes. Amen.