Gospel Reflection

August 16, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Feast of St. Roch (San Roque), Patron Saint of the Sick and the Plague-stricken

by Rev. Fr. Leo Nilo C. Mangussad, Rector, Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA (EDSA Shrine)
6:30AM Mass at EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 Jos 24:1-13

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people:  “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:  In times past your fathers, down to Terah, father of Abraham and Nahor, dwelt beyond the River and served other gods. But I brought your father Abraham from the region beyond the River and led him through the entire land of Canaan. I made his descendants numerous, and gave him Isaac. To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned the mountain region of Seir in which to settle, while Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

“Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and smote Egypt with the prodigies which I wrought in her midst. Afterward I led you out of Egypt, and when you reached the sea, the Egyptians pursued your fathers to the Red Sea with chariots and horsemen. Because they cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between your people and the Egyptians, upon whom he brought the sea so that it engulfed them. After you witnessed what I did to Egypt, and dwelt a long time in the desert, I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your power. You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them,  the two kings of the Amorites, before you. Then Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, prepared to war against Israel. He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you; but I would not listen to Balaam. On the contrary, he had to bless you, and I saved you from him. Once you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, but I delivered them also into your power. And I sent the hornets ahead of you that drove them (the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites,  Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites) out of your way; it was not your sword or your bow.

“I gave you a land that you had not tilled and cities that you had not built, to dwell in; you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22 and 24

R. His mercy endures forever.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever;
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his mercy endures forever;
Give thanks to the LORD of lords,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.
Who led his people through the wilderness,
for his mercy endures forever;
Who smote great kings,
for his mercy endures forever;
And slew powerful kings,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.
And made their land a heritage,
for his mercy endures forever;
The heritage of Israel his servant,
for his mercy endures forever;
And freed us from our foes,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.

Gospel Mt 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.”  They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

HOMILY

There is this story of a very foxy lady who was married to a billionaire. One time, her billionaire husband asked her, "Hon, would you still love me if you found out that I really do not own this Mustang and this BMW?" The woman said, "Of course, sweetheart, I will still love you." And then the billionaire asked a second question. "Hon, would you still love me if you found out that I do not really own this multi-billion dollar business?" The woman replied, "But of course, my sweetheart, I will still love you." And then finally, the husband asked, "Hon, would you still love me if you found out that I was not really a billionaire, but a poor man?" To which the woman said, "But of course, sweetheart, I will still love you, but I am going to miss you." In short, the woman was going to leave him.

The story that I related to you is a relationship, based, not on true love, but on a need. This is what Jesus is trying to remind us in the Gospel. When love is true, sincere, honest, divorce is not an issue. When love is real, it is based on a love that is given to us by God the Father - eternal, standing the test of time, forever. Just like in the First Reading, God loved His people, showed it, and took care of His people. Even if they sinned against Him, God never stopped loving His people. This is the basis of true love, which, unfortunately, is beginning to be lost in our world today. Many of us get married for practical matters, and not for love, thus divorce becomes an issue.

It is good to be reflective of this. If we can have earthly love, what about love in the true sense, a love of God? If we do not like God, are we going to divorce Him in our faith?

Gospel Reflection

August 15, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Mass During the Day

by Rev.  Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

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

Reading 1 Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab

God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed One.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 45:10, 11, 12, 16

R. (10bc) The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father’s house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

Reading 2 1 Cor 15:20-27

Brothers and sisters: Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.”

Gospel Lk 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, this is the great Solemnity of the Assumption, when the Blessed Virgin Mary is brought up, body and soul, to heaven.

But why is this so important? Because it shows that the Blessed Virgin Mary was totally preserved from sin, soul and body. And this the deep sign of the love and mercy of God. The great privilege that God has given to Mary is a grace for us. It is the path to follow. While Mary is entering heaven, our eyes are following her, and our focus and priority in life becomes the Kingdom of God.

The Assumption of Mary is a time when our whole attention should turn to heaven. Because of Mary, our faith has become strong here on earth, and we face the reality of our life, the difficulties of our life, the trials of our life. Our eyes, our hearts, are turned toward heaven. The Solemnity of the Assumption is a time for thankfulness -  our feet on earth, but our hearts in heaven. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

August 14, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

by Rev. Fr. Benjamin “Benjo” Fajota - Vice Rector, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine) 5:30pm Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2

David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD to the place which he had prepared for it. David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites.

The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD.

David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kinsmen as chanters, to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to make a loud sound of rejoicing.

They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it. Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14

R. (8) Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us enter his dwelling,
let us worship at his footstool.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for her dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.

Reading 2 1 Cor 15:54b-57

Brothers and sisters: When that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:

Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Lk 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

HOMILY

Today, we once again honor our Blessed Mother. And some people would question us - why has Mary endured through all these ages? What is the secret of the mystery of our Blessed Mother, that until now, we continue to honor and venerate her, and recognize her as part of our redemption, which a lot of our misunderstood brothers and sisters from other sects do not accept?

The reason why we always include the story of Mary in our Gospel is because the Gospel will not be complete without the story of Mary. In the story of the fall of man - Adam and Eve - they had parallelisms which are very close to the story of Jesus and Mary. In the story of the fall of man, it was the woman who came out of the man - Eve coming from the rib of Adam. In the story of our redemption, it was man who came out from the woman. The Blessed Mother delivered her Son, Jesus. In the Old Order, it was the woman who first sinned and tempted the man to do the same. In the story of our redemption, it was the woman who first said 'yes' to the will of God, and Jesus was there to fulfill the mission of proclaiming the Good News to all of us, and to secure for us our salvation. While Adam and Eve were enjoying the fruit of their sin - eating the forbidden fruit - the woman and her son were suffering, agonizing, because of obeying the will of the Father. Jesus died on the Cross, while Mary was with a sword pierced in her heart. While Adam and Eve suffered immediately and were banished from paradise, Jesus Christ and Mother Mary were glorified immediately after their suffering. Jesus ascended into heaven, and Mary was assumed, body and soul, to heavenly glory. While the Ascension of Jesus is active, the Assumption of Mother Mary is passive, through the glory and power of God.

Five years after World War II, in 1950, Pope Pious XII declared and promulgated the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and declared in his apostolic exhortation that the Immaculate Mother of God was rightly assumed, body and soul, to heavenly glory. But what is the meaning of all these in our present lives? Parang hindi natin makita ang kahulugan o hindi natin makita kung makaka-relate ba tayo dito sa istorya ng ating Mahal na Ina.

Lahat ng mga magulang, lalong lalo na ang mga nanay, na nagkaroon ng pangamba at takot para sa kaligtasan ng kanilang mga anak, ay naranasan din ni Maria. The journey of Mary is our own journey of faith. When news broke out that Mary was pregnant and that she had no husband, there were false rumors against her. Ganito rin ang sinasabi ng mga taong pinaratangan ng mali, 'yong mga taong nasira ang dangal o karangalan dahil sa paninira ng ibang tao. Ganito rin ang dinanas ni Maria. Noong siya ay nawalan ng asawa, paano na niya bubuhayin ang kanyang sariling anak? Ganito rin ang problema ng mga ina o ama na mag-isang sumusulong para sa kapakanan ng kanilang anak. May mga anak na nawawalan ng magulang dahil sa aksidente o kaya ay dahil kailangang magtrabaho ang magulang sa ibang bayan, pero sa istorya ng ating Panginoon, naroon pa rin si Maria na itinaguyod ang kapakanan ni Hesus, kahit na wala na ang Kanyang ama sa lupa na si San Jose.

A lot of the experiences of Mama Mary are our own earthly experiences. Makita natin sana ang kahalagahan nito. Ang pinakamahalaga dito, kaya't pinarangalan si Maria ay dahil sa hanggang sa huli ng kanyang buhay, the Blessed Mother remained faithful and obedient to the will of God. That is why she is glorified. That is why she is being honored as the mother of all humanity, and the mother of our Church.

Let us remember her instruction to us: "Listen and do whatever Jesus tells you". Amen.