Gospel Reflection

August 08, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

by Rev. Fr. David "Dave" T. Concepcion

(Spiritual Director, Holy Apostles Senior Seminary, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Center, Guadalupe, Makati City)
5:30PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

Reading 1 Nm 20:1-13

The whole congregation of the children of Israel arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people settled at Kadesh. It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.

As the community had no water, they held a council against Moses and Aaron. The people contended with Moses, exclaiming, “Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD’s presence! Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this desert where we and our livestock are dying? Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates? Here there is not even water to drink!” But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate.

Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them, and the LORD said to Moses, “Take your staff and assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron, and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters. From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation and their livestock to drink.” So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.  He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock, where he said to them, “Listen to me, you rebels! Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?” Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed out in abundance for the people and their livestock to drink. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them.”

These are the waters of Meribah, where the children of Israel contended against the LORD, and where the LORD revealed his sanctity among them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Gospel Mt 16:13-23

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

HOMILY

Before reflecting on the Gospel, I would like to go back first to the First Reading, because I think even some of you, if asked, why Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land, some of you will answer, because he struck the rock twice. The answer is no. Why? Because there was no instruction at the very beginning that you will strike the rock twice. God said Moses will not enter. Why? God said, "Because you were not faithful to Me in showing forth My sanctity before the children of Israel...." God did not say 'you failed to obey My instruction'. God was saying Moses was not faithful to Him in showing forth His sanctity before the children of Israel. How? Because before striking the rock, Moses uttered, "Listen to me, you rebels. Are we - take note...Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?" Are we? It is one way of saying that Moses is claiming that He is also part of the One allowing wonders to come forth from the rock. Hindi siya kasali. He is not part of God. Moses was God's spokesperson. Pero dinamay niya ang sarili niya sa pangalan ng Diyos.

My dear friends, my dear brothers and sisters, it is good to ask ourselves. Do we really understand who we really are before God? Do we understand? The question is - "Who am I to you?" or "Who do you say that I am?" or "Sino ba Ako para sa iyo?" Because answering the question will determine our relationship to God. And if we know our relationship to God, then we will know our role.

Minsan, marami sa atin ang nagdadasal na para bagang sa iyong pagdarasal ay naintindihan mo talaga ang loob ng Diyos. Nagagalit ka sa Diyos kapag hindi binibigay sa iyo ng Diyos ang iyong mga panalangin. Kaya magandang itanong - sino ba ang Diyos para sa atin? "Sino ba Ako para sa iyo?"

Halimbawa, sa relasyon natin sa ating kapwa. Halimbawa, ako'y pari. Pag tayo'y lumalabas, sino ba ako sa inyo? 'Ikaw po'y pari.' Kaya huwag ninyo akong kakaladkarin. Nakuha po ninyo? Hindi po ako pwedeng pumunta sa kahit saang lugar na gusto ninyo akong pumunta. Sapagkat ako ay pari. Kuha ninyo? Ano pa? Ang mag-asawa. Kung ikaw ay misis o mister, aba'y umasal ka bilang may asawa. Dahil alam mong ikaw ay may asawa, hindi ka pwedeng mag-asal binata, kahit saan. Maliwanag po 'yon. Pag ikaw ay sumisigaw sa iyong magulang, ang tanong sa iyo ng iyong magulang, "Sino ba ako?" "Kayo po ang aking magulang." "Eh bakit mo ako sinisigawan?"

There must be clarity on our role in life, so that our relationship will be clear. Kapag ang isa ay hindi malinaw....Hindi malinaw sa mga anak kung sino ang magulang sa anak. Kapag may hinihingi ang anak sa magulang, kung makasigaw ang anak. If you know that they are your parents, then respect must be there. If it is clear to you that you are a husband or a wife, then faithfulness must be there. Hindi kayo kikilos dalaga o binata, kasi hindi ka na dalaga, at hindi ka na binata. Ako po ay pari, wala akong asawa, pero hindi ako binata. Hindi ako binata. I am not available. (laughs) Kasal ako sa simbahan. Nakuha po ninyo?

Kasi nagtatampo ang mga tao, 'Si Father, ang hirap imbitahin. Kakain lang naman, eh.' Aba'y kung pwede, bakit hindi? Tapos pag sama nang sama sa inyo ang pari, sasabihin n'yo, 'Kaladkarin 'yang si Father'. (laughs) Pag hindi sumama, ang sungit ni Father. Di ba? Mga minamahal kong mga kapatid, sa panahon ngayon, wala nang paring namatay sa gutom. (laughs) Madalang na nga kayong makakita ng paring payat, eh. (laughs) Di po ba? At karamihan ng sakit ng pari, kundi diabetes, alta presyon. Sobra sa kain. (laughs) Dahil may mga taong walang tigil ang pakain. (laughs) Lalong lalo na pag piyesta. 'Konti lang, Father, konti lang.' Feeling ba nila eh maraming bituka ang pari. (laughs) Kaya mahirap maging pari ngayon. Pag sumama sa babae, babaero. Pag lalaki ang kasama, bakla. (laughs) Pag sumama sa mga bata, pedophile siguro 'yan. (laughs) Sino ako sa inyo? Who am I to you?

Noong buhay pa po ang aking mga magulang, pag bumibisita ako sa bahay, syempre bago kumain, magdarasal. Sasabihin ng Tatay ko, 'Yong pari ang magbe-bless ng food'. Ang sagot ko doon eh, 'Yong Tatay po ng tahanan ang mangunguna sa pagdarasal'. Sasabihin ng Tatay ko, 'Eh, pari ka na, eh.' Ang sagot ko do'n eh, 'For you, I have become a priest, but with you, I remain a son'. Dapat malinaw ang relasyon. Because if the relationship is not clear, then we fail to play our role towards each other. Kaya sabi ni Cardinal sa kanyang Facebook, sa aming mga pari, 'Hindi ka artista, hindi ka singer, hindi ka contractor, pari ka. Magpaka-pari ka.' Tama naman ho 'yon.

Mga minamahal na mga kapatid, it's good to ask ourselves. Ako bilang magulang, bilang anak, bilang asawa, ginagampanan ko ba ang aking tungkulin? Kaya nga nakakalungkot ang tanong ng isa. Sabi niya, "Father, hanggang kailan ko ba susustentuhan ang aking matandang magulang?" Malungkot na tanong. Hindi ko sinagot kung kailan. Ang tanong ko ay, "Gaano mo sila kamahal?" Gaano mo sila kamahal? Sapagkat dapat malinaw sa inyo kung ano ang inyong relasyon sa kanila. At sana, ang relasyon na 'yan ay hindi dahil sa obligasyon, kundi sa pagmamahal. Sapagkat kapag nawala na ang pagmamahal, magsisimula na tayong magkwentahan sa bawat isa.

The 'God-question' will lead us to 'man-question'. Who do you say that I am? Sino ba Ako para sa iyo? Kaya kapag mayroon tayong problema sa ating mga relasyon - sino ba siya para sa atin? Sino ba ako para sa kanila?

My dear friends, my dear brothers and sisters, ask yourself. Malinaw ba sa akin kung sino ako? Ikalawa, nagagawa ko ba ang aking tungkulin sa aking kasama? Sa harapan ng Diyos, sino ako, at sino Siya? Kung maliwanag sa inyo, hindi ka magrereklamo kung bakit kailangan mong magdasal, at hindi ka magrereklamo kung bakit kailangan kang magsimba.  

Gospel Reflection

August 07, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

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

12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 Nm 13:1-2, 25–14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35

The LORD said to Moses [in the desert of Paran,] “Send men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, which I am giving the children of Israel. You shall send one man from each ancestral tribe, all of them princes.”

After reconnoitering the land for forty days they returned, met Moses and Aaron and the whole congregation of the children of Israel in the desert of Paran at Kadesh, made a report to them all, and showed the fruit of the country to the whole congregation. They told Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us. It does indeed flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit. However, the people who are living in the land are fierce, and the towns are fortified and very strong. Besides, we saw descendants of the Anakim there. Amalekites live in the region of the Negeb; Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites dwell in the highlands, and Canaanites along the seacoast and the banks of the Jordan.”

Caleb, however, to quiet the people toward Moses, said, “We ought to go up and seize the land, for we can certainly do so.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We cannot attack these people; they are too strong for us.” So they spread discouraging reports among the children of Israel about the land they had scouted, saying, “The land that we explored is a country that consumes its inhabitants. And all the people we saw there are huge, veritable giants (the Anakim were a race of giants); we felt like mere grasshoppers, and so we must have seemed to them.”

At this, the whole community broke out with loud cries, and even in the night the people wailed.

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked assembly grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the children of Israel against me. Tell them: By my life, says the LORD, I will do to you just what I have heard you say. Here in the desert shall your dead bodies fall. Forty days you spent in scouting the land; forty years shall you suffer for your crimes: one year for each day. Thus you will realize what it means to oppose me. I, the LORD, have sworn to do this to all this wicked assembly that conspired against me: here in the desert they shall die to the last man.”

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 106:6-7ab, 13-14, 21-22, 23

R. (4a) Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
We have sinned, we and our fathers;
we have committed crimes; we have done wrong.
Our fathers in Egypt
considered not your wonders.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
But soon they forgot his works;
they waited not for his counsel.
They gave way to craving in the desert
and tempted God in the wilderness.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

 

Gospel Mt 15: 21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

HOMILY

'Yong ating Ebanghelyo ngayon medyo may pagka-kontrobersiyal. If you listened very well to the Gospel, a Canaanite woman approached our Lord. When you say Canaanite, that means she is not an Israelite. She is outside of Israel. And a Canaanite is considered an outsider. And because Jesus is considered a Jewish religious leader, by law, the woman has no right to approach the Lord. So when the woman approached Jesus, many were surprised. Para bang sinabi nila na ang lakas naman ng loob ng babaeng ito. They believed that the woman had no right to approach Jesus, who is a religious leader of Israel.

And what did Jesus say in response to the pleading of the woman? Mas nakaka-iskandalo. Because when the lady approached the Lord, Jesus said, "It is not mine to take the food for the children and throw it to the dogs." It's as if Jesus is saying that His service is only for the children of Israel, and not for others. And it's as if Jesus was calling the woman a 'dog'. But the woman gave a very beautiful reply. "But Lord, even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Sinasabi ng babae na kahit na ang mga aso ay nakikinabang sa mga mumo na nalalaglag sa mesa ng kanilang panginoon.

So what is the woman saying here? 'Yes, I know I have no right. This is not my right. I know it is a privilege....but let me partake of that privilege.' And when Jesus saw that mentality, Jesus said, 'Your wish will be fulfilled.'

What is the good thing about the woman? The woman has no sense of entitlement. For her, everything is grace. Marami sa atin, ang ating mentality - o, I deserve it. Kailangang ibigay mo sa akin 'yan. It is my right. So we have that sense of entitlement. And so because we have that sense of entitlement, what happens? We become less grateful. Sometimes, there are things that are given to us, not as a right, but as a privilege, but we tend to ignore it. Hindi na tayo nagpapasalamat. We believe that it is our right, not our privilege. But if we open our eyes, we will recognize that many things that we enjoy are actually privileges. But we don't recognize them.

For example - why do we have a chapel in the mall? Is that your right, to have a chapel inside the mall? No. It is a privilege. But have we ever thought about it - 'Lord, thank You, that at this time, we are able to hear the mass even in the middle of the mall.' It is a privilege, not a right. Mayroon tayong mga taong nagsisilbi dito sa chapel. They are not paid individuals. Have you ever said 'thank you' to them? Halimbawa, 'Uy salamat ha, sa service mo.' It is not our right. It is our privilege that they are here with us. Let's thank them for their service. Pag meron tayong sense of entitlement, makakalimutan natin 'yan. Hindi tayo magpapasalamat.

There are also many things that people do to you, not as a right, but as a privilege. But do you recognize them as such? Kapag ipinagluto ka ng masarap na pagkain ng iyong asawa o ng iyong nanay, nagpapasalamat ka ba? Sometimes, because of our sense of entitlement, we behave like kings or queens. 'Pagsilbihan mo ako.' At kapag nakakain ka na, magrereklamo ka, 'Naku, hindi masarap itong niluto mo.' Hindi mo binabayaran ang magulang mo, o ang asawa mo. Lalo na 'yong mga anak - 'yong pag-aalaga na ginagawa sa atin ng ating mga magulang, these are privileges that are being given to us.

The woman in the story was commended by the Lord because she did not have a sense of entitlement. She recognizes that everything is grace, everything is gift. And paradoxically, when you begin to recognize that you do not deserve anything, everything will be given to you. That is the paradox. When we approach the Lord and believe that we do not deserve anything from Him, that is the time that we will be given everything. When Jesus saw that in the woman, what did Jesus say? Her wish will be fulfilled at that very hour.

In this mass, let us pray for that grace that we may recognize that everything is a gift, and that everything is a privilege. And therefore, let us pray for the gift of gratitude in our hearts. Only then will everything be given to us. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

August 06, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

by Rev. Fr. Benjamin “Benjo” Fajota - Vice Rector, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine) 5:30PM Mass at EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 Dn 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; his throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened and the books were opened.

As the visions during the night continued, I saw:

One like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 9

R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

 

Reading 2 2 Pt 1:16-19

Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

 

Gospel Lk 9:28b-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James  and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance  and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,  who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus  that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,  but becoming fully awake,  they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,  “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking,  a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time  tell anyone what they had seen.

HOMILY

A woman entered an abortion clinic in the U.S., and after the ultrasound, she was shown on the monitor, the figure or the outline of her baby boy. The doctor said that 75% of women who see the ultrasound form of their babies would keep their babies, while 25% would not. The doctor, then, felt that the mother would be part of the 25% because she kept on saying, "I'm not prepared for this. We have not planned for this baby." Then, the assistant told the mother, "Why don't you touch his hand?" The mother moved her hands toward the screen and by a stroke of divine view, the baby in the monitor moved his hands and touched the tip of her mother's finger. The mother kept her baby.

At that particular time, the mother saw the glory of an ordinary person, in the image and likeness of God. A lot of times, we cannot see beyond the ordinariness of people. We only see people as they are. We judge them, condemn them, treat them with contempt. But we, who have been created in the image and likeness of God, share in the divine glory that we seldom see.

The Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that we must go beyond the ordinariness of things. This is because of our crisis of faith, when we say that we love God, but we do not love our neighbor. Anyone can say that he professes his belief in God, yet his neighbors see that he is lying. This is why during the Eucharist, when the priest raises the ordinariness of the bread, we must see beyond that. We must see the glory of God prefigured in that ordinary bread - the glory of God that we receive, each time that we receive the Eucharist. By doing so, by practicing and accepting God's truth, we can also accept our brothers and sisters in the ordinariness of their lives. Amen.