Gospel Reflection

August 19, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Montecarlo Veloria (Rector, Shrine of the Our Lady of Mercy, Novaliches, Quezon City)

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

Reading 1 Jgs 2:11-19

The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals. Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers, who led them out of the land of Egypt, they followed the other gods of the various nations around them, and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.

Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel, and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them. He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about whom they were no longer able to withstand. Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them, as in his warning he had sworn he would do, till they were in great distress. Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them from the power of their despoilers, they did not listen to their judges, but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods. They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken, and did not follow their example of obedience to the commandments of the LORD.  Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived; it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries of affliction under their oppressors. But when the judge died,
they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

Responsorial Psalm PS 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44

R. (4a) Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They did not exterminate the peoples,
as the LORD had commanded them,
But mingled with the nations
and learned their works.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They served their idols,
which became a snare for them.
They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to demons.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They became defiled by their works,
and wanton in their crimes.
And the LORD grew angry with his people,
and abhorred his inheritance.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Many times did he rescue them,
but they embittered him with their counsels.
Yet he had regard for their affliction
when he heard their cry.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Gospel Mt 19:16-22

A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

HOMILY

Ang focus ng ating Gospel or reflection, ay tungkol sa yaman - riches. And the object of scrutiny is a young, rich man, who was very, very promising.

Alam n'yo mga kapatid, kung ang kayamanan ang siyang batayan ng ating kaligayahan o fulfillment, sana itong young, rich man ay hindi na lumapit sa ating Panginoon. Pero lumapit siya, because he felt that there is something lacking. We heard the young man ask, "Lord, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" And the Lord said, "If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." Which ones? And the Lord enumerated them. And the young man said that he has observed these commandments from his childhood. Napakabait ng batang mayaman, mga kapatid. Hindi siya nagnanakaw, hindi siya involved sa kahit ano'ng uri ng scam. Tapat siya sa kanyang pamilya. Inaalagaan niya ang kanyang mga magulang. He is perfect.

But the Lord challenged him, as he is going to challenge us. The Lord told the young man to go and dispose of his riches, and give them to the poor. We know what happened. The young, rich man went away sad. Nakakita na ba kayo ng isang taong sobrang yaman na malungkot? After the young rich man's conversation with the Lord, he went away sad. Why? The answer is obvious. He cannot dispose of his material wealth. He cannot do away with his riches, because he was so attached to them. He could not live without them, and it is very sad.

All of us, my dear friends, bilang mga Kristiyano....lahat po tayo ay mayaman. Walang mahirap. Mayaman ka, because the Lord is not speaking of material wealth here. You might be poor in material things, but definitely, you are rich in God's love. You are rich in your dignity. You are rich as a Christian. But sometimes, our material wealth hinders us to follow the footsteps of the Lord.

My dear brothers and sisters, as we continue with this mass, let us ask ourselves. Ano ba ang mga bagay sa buhay ko na nagiging hadlang para ako'y lubusang sumunod sa ating Panginoon, at aking makamtan ang buhay na walang hanggan?

Gospel Reflection

August 18, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Rufino "Jun" C. Sescon, Jr. - Chaplain, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel (Greenbelt Chapel), Makati
6:00PM Sunday Mass at Greenbelt Chapel, Makati

Reading 1 Jer 38:4-6, 8-10

In those days, the princes said to the king: “Jeremiah ought to be put to death; he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such things to them; he is not interested in the welfare of our people, but in their ruin.”  King Zedekiah answered: “He is in your power”; for the king could do nothing with them. And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, which was in the quarters of the guard, letting him down with ropes.  There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.

Ebed-melech, a court official, went there from the palace and said to him: “My lord king, these men have been at fault in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah, casting him into the cistern. He will die of famine on the spot, for there is no more food in the city.”  Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite to take three men along with him, and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18

R. (14b) Lord, come to my aid!
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
The LORD heard my cry.
He drew me out of the pit of destruction,
out of the mud of the swamp;
he set my feet upon a crag;
he made firm my steps.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in awe
and trust in the LORD.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
Though I am afflicted and poor,
yet the LORD thinks of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, hold not back!
R. Lord, come to my aid!

Reading 2 Heb 12:1-4

Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.  Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

Gospel Lk 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!  There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!  Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.  From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

HOMILY

Before I begin this reflection, allow me to show a very short video clip from the movie 'Brother Sun, Sister Moon'. You may know the movie already about the life of Giovanni di Pietro de Bernardoni. Later I will tell you who Mr. Bernardoni is. 

In the scene, his father, who is a wealthy businessman, brought the young Giovanni to the bishop, because Giovanni was causing trouble, especially for the family. He gave away everything, and the father was so upset, that is why he brought Giovanni to the plaza before the bishop. So that is the context of the short video clip that I will show to you about Giovanni di Pietro de Bernardoni. Let us watch this. 

Father Jun shows the Youtube version of 'Brother Sun, Sister Moon - the Conversion Scene'. (Version is the first to appear when searched on YouTube.) 

The story is about the conversion story of St. Francis of Assissi - whose name was Giovanni di Pietro de Bernardoni. He gave away everything to the dismay of his father. Towards the end, as you heard, he was looking for happiness. He was looking for his soul. And in the end, he says, "I am born again." He is born again in Christ. 

Now, we understand what Jesus said in the Gospel. If I ask you who Jesus is, we will have different titles of Jesus. We call him compassionate Lord, merciful Judge, Sacred Heart, Good Shepherd, meek and humble of heart. But our Gospel today is different. Our Gospel shows a Jesus who challenges, a Jesus who brings conflict even in families, a Jesus who sets the world on fire, just as he did to St. Francis and to many other followers who faithfully took to heart His will.

Today, brothers and sisters, that is the grace we pray, that we may truly follow the Lord. That we may have that fire, the fire that Jesus is talking about. Is that fire in our hearts? Every time that we look at the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we will see the heart that is on fire. St. Francis, and so many other saints, even the unknown saints - their hearts were also on fire. 

To follow Jesus faithfully is to become a contradiction to the world. It is to have another standard that other people are uncomfortable with. The Gospel tells us to risk power, prestige, and even acceptance, if only to advance the ways of Jesus. 

Sometimes we take it that to follow Jesus is to have an electronic blanket where we could be warm and cozy. That is why some people do not like to join the mass. They prefer the more lively gatherings where they can feel so warm and cozy. At times, we are given, not a blanket to warm our hearts. At times, we see a cross that challenges us, a standard that sometimes we are not comfortable with. A way that is not taken by so many people. But that is the Gospel of Jesus. That is the way of Christ.

Yes, we hear Jesus telling us, "Come to Me, all you who are tired and weary, and I will refresh you." But at the same time, Jesus is also telling us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us. "If you want to follow Me, take up your cross and die to yourself." That is Jesus on fire. That is Jesus who will sometimes bring us to conflict. 

If you were paying close attention to the film, you might have heard a comment of the people on Giovanni - "You're crazy." He may have looked crazy after all. In the scene, Giovanni stripped himself off, and that was true. He got rid of everything, so that he could be free for Christ. Crazy. Not a few times have I heard people say that following Jesus - following the Church - is foolish, impractical, if not abnormal. How many times have we heard that to follow the Gospel is abnormal? 

To be with the Church is foolish, because it is out of date, hindi na uso, laos na. Ayaw sumabay sa uso. Matigas ang ulo ng Simbahan. Old-fashioned na ang maging Kristiyano. Sometimes, to follow the Lord is like driving counterflow along EDSA at rush hour. It's difficult, it is challenging. 

But one writer said that 'the risks of life are many, and safety is among them'. Yes, the risk of safety is what most of us, at times, take. Today, the Gospel asks us to risk, to put out into deep waters, to be on fire with the fire of Jesus. To follow Jesus will precisely displace us, will make us abnormal in the eyes of the world. But then St. Paul tells us, 'We may be fools for Christ, we may be crazy in this world, but that is the wisdom of God - the wisdom that surpasses understanding.' As what Jeremiah is telling us in the First Reading, he was persecuted, he was not accepted, because he embraced the ways of God. 

Today, brothers and sisters, we pray for that grace. We are afraid that we will be rejected if we run counterflow. But then, that is the only way to the happiness that our soul is thirsting for. Mahirap lumaban sa uso. Pag sinasabi ng lahat sa opisina, 'huwag ka nang magsalita, huwag ka nang umamin, makisama ka na lang', minsan mahirap lumaban. In the family, just to tolerate, even if someone has done wrong, pagtatakpan natin, kasi kapamilya natin, kadugo natin, kaibigan natin, kasama natin. But today, we are reminded, ang pinaka-kasama natin, ang pinaka-pamilya natin, ay ang Diyos. God takes precedence over anything else. That is what it means to be on fire. Baptism into Christian life is meant to be a displacement in this world. But it is precisely to call us to the will of God. 

As we continue with this mass, let us ask ourselves. Andiyan pa ba ang apoy sa puso natin? Marami pong nagagawa ang apoy. At isa sa mga nagagawa ng apoy ay niluluto niya ang isang bagay. Mga kapatid, maraming bagay sa buhay natin ang parang hilaw. Ayaw lang natin aminin. Hilaw ang kasiyahan, hilaw ang kapayapaan, hilaw ang pagkakaisa, hilaw ang lakas, dahil kulang pa 'yong apoy.

Today, before the Lord, we ask ourselves. Are we really happy? Do we really know what we are looking for? Is there really that deep conviction that will bring us real fulfillment? Or are we only driven by pride, by anger, by selfish motives, by the ways of this world? Sometimes we are silent, because we are afraid. Silent, because we might be rejected. Silent, because that fire has yet to be set in our hearts. 

As we continue with this mass, we pray. Lord, set us on fire. Not the fire of this world, but the fire that comes from Your heart. A fire that will give us real peace, real fulfillment, real happiness. Banish away our fears so that the choices we make will be in accordance with Your will. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

August 17, 2013

Saturday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Paul Marquez (St. Paul Church and Seminary, Bagtikan Street, Makati)

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

Reading 1 Jos 24:14-29

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, and addressed them, saying: “Fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. At our approach the LORD drove out all the peoples, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

Joshua in turn said to the people, “You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If, after the good he has done for you, you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods, he will do evil to you and destroy you.”

But the people answered Joshua, “We will still serve the LORD.” Joshua therefore said to the people, “You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” They replied, “We are, indeed!” Joshua continued: “Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” Then the people promised Joshua, “We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice.”

So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem, which he recorded in the book of the law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was in the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said to all the people, “This stone shall be our witness, for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us. It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God.” Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage.

After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten.

Responsorial Psalm PS 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 11

R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Gospel Mt 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

HOMILY

Isa pong magandang maulang hapon sa inyong lahat.

Sa mga araw-araw pong nagsisimba, siguro po'y nasusubaybayan ninyo ang kwento ni Josue o kung sa Ingles ay si Joshua. Siya po 'yong assistant ni Moses. Si Moses po ay namatay sa edad na 120 years old. Kaya ho noong huling birthday niya, siguro kung meron pong kandila sa birthday cake niya, parang masusunog na po siguro ang cake (laughs), at mahihirapan na siguro siyang hipan 'yon (laughs). Si Josue naman po ay inabot ng edad na 110 years.

Sa Reading po kahapon, tinawag po ni Josue ang lahat ng members ng kanyang congregation of the chosen people - the elders, the priests, prophets, citizens. Tinipon niya silang lahat, at inisa-isa niya sa kanila ang mga magagandang ginawa ng Diyos para sa bayan ng Israel. Ito ang kwento kahapon. Joshua traced back the merciful deeds of God for the chosen people.

Ngayon naman pong araw na ito, sa pagpapatuloy ng kwento ni Josue, sinabi niya, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Kasi alam ni Josue na marami pa rin sa mga chosen people ang naliligaw ng landas. Oo nga, naniniwala at nananalig sila kay God the Father na dumampot sa kanila mula pagka-alipin patungo sa Lupang Pangako, pero sabi ni Josue, hindi maaari ang nahahating paglilingkod. Kalahati ng puso nila ay nasa Diyos, pero may mga iniingatan pa rin silang mga diyos-diyosan.

Pag meron pong mga kapatid natin na hindi Katoliko ang nakapasok sa ating chapel, at kapag luminga-linga siya, alam ninyo na ang diyos-diyosan na ituturo nila sa atin ay ito pong imahen ng Inang Maria, ni Padre Pio at mga santo. Tatanungin nila, "Bakit ang dami n'yong diyos-diyosan? Bakit n'yo sila sinasamba?" Hindi po natin sinasamba ang mga 'yan. Sabi nga sa Ingles, we revere them, we honor them. Sila ang nagpapa-alala sa atin sa presensiya ng Diyos, katulad ng ating Mahal na Birheng Maria.

Ang diyos-diyosan na tinutukoy ni Josue ay 'yong mga likha ng Diyos, kagaya ng mga hayop sa lupa at hayop sa tubig na mababangis, na inaalayan nila, kasi natatakot sila. Kapag nag-aalimpuyo ang dagat, iniisip nila na may sea monster doon na ang kapangyarihan ay kagaya ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos. Sabi ni Josue, hindi pwedeng ganoon. Bukod po doon, meron silang mga diyos-diyosan kagaya ng pagiging mainggitin, pagiging mayabang, pagiging hambog, pagiging magagalitin.

Sa panahon po natin, meron din pong mga diyos-diyosan. Nandiyan ang diyos-diyosan ng porma. Kinakailangang beautiful ka, amoy mabango ka. Nandiyan din ang diyos-diyosan ng job security. Kailangang may trabaho. O kaya prestige. Kailangang meron kang pangalan. Ilan lamang po ito sa mga bagong porma ng mga diyos-diyosan na sinasamba ng tao.

Mahalaga din po ito. Sino ba naman ang ayaw magkaroon ng magandang pangalan, ang magkaroon ng magandang hitsura? Pero ang sabi, hindi maaaring 'yan ang mangunguna sa lahat, higit pa sa Diyos. Hindi iyan ang sasambahin ninyo, kung hindi ang Diyos lamang. Hindi po pwedeng nahahati ang paglilingkod. "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Sabi niya sa bayang Israel, kayo na ang pumili.

Dito po sa ating Magandang Balita, na napaigsing Gospel ngayong araw, maraming dinalang bata kay Hesus. Parang sa ating mga parokya, tayong mga Pilipino, inilalapit ang mga bata sa pari at ibe-bless mo sila. Ang sabi ni Hesus, kapag hindi ninyo tinanggap ang mga batang 'yan at maging katulad nila, hindi kayo makakapasok sa Kaharian ng Diyos. Ipinapa-alala sa atin ng Panginoon na sana ay maging bata tayo. Kagaya ni Josue, alam niya kung ano ang kalooban ng Diyos - ang pagiging bata at naka-depende palagi sa Diyos.

Ang bata, hindi mabubuhay nang maayos kung walang nakatatanda na gagabay at susuporta sa kanya. Ang bata ay madali ring turuan. Kaya tanggalin natin ang ating pride, para manatili tayong bata, na nagpapaturo sa ating Panginoon na Dakilang Guro. Ito po ang hamon sa atin ng Ebanghelyo, na sana ay maging bata tayo, at di lamang basta katulad ng bata, kundi tanggapin ang mga kagaya nila sa buhay natin. Sino po ito? Ito ang mga taong maaaring dumepende sa atin. Sila ang mga taong pag ginawan natin ng kabutihan ay walang maibibigay na kapalit para sa atin. Madali kasing gumawa nang mabuti sa mga taong alam mong makakatulong din sa iyo. Pero gagawa ka nang mabuti sa mga taong alam mong walang maibibigay na kapalit. 'Yon ang pagtanggap sa isang tunay na bata.

Kagaya ng ating Mahal na Birheng Maria, siya ay isang tao, isang anak ng Diyos na umasa lamang sa Panginoon sa lahat ng sandali ng kanyang buhay. Siya ay isa sa mga tinatawag sa Bibliya na 'anawim' - the poor of the Lord. Hindi lang basta poor, kundi 'poor of the Lord', sapagkat umaasa siya sa Diyos. Diyos lamang ang kanyang inaasahan. Kaya sa gitna po ng ating kahirapan, di lamang sa materyal na bagay....meron tayong loneliness, search for meaning in life, companionship....sa gitna ng ating mga iba't ibang uri ng paghihikahos sa buhay, sana, hindi lang tayo maging mahirap, kundi tayo ay maging 'mahirap ng Panginoon'. Alam natin na ang ating Panginoong Diyos ay laging aalalay sa atin. Kaya naman kayanin natin ang buhay, sapakat kailan man ay hindi tayo nag-iisa. Amen.