Gospel Reflection

August 22, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Rev. Fr. Ray Victor Pascual, LRMS (Spiritual and Apostolate Director, Lorenzo Mission Institute)
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 Jgs 11:29-39a

The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and through Mizpah-Gilead as well, and from there he went on to the Ammonites. Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. “If you deliver the Ammonites into my power,” he said, “whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites shall belong to the LORD. I shall offer him up as a burnt offering.”

Jephthah then went on to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his power, so that he inflicted a severe defeat on them, from Aroer to the approach of Minnith (twenty cities in all) and as far as Abel-keramim. Thus were the Ammonites brought into subjection by the children of Israel. When Jephthah returned to his house in Mizpah, it was his daughter who came forth, playing the tambourines and dancing. She was an only child: he had neither son nor daughter besides her. When he saw her, he rent his garments and said, “Alas, daughter, you have struck me down and brought calamity upon me. For I have made a vow to the LORD and I cannot retract.” She replied, “Father, you have made a vow to the LORD. Do with me as you have vowed, because the LORD has wrought vengeance for you on your enemies the Ammonites.” Then she said to her father, “Let me have this favor. Spare me for two months, that I may go off down the mountains to mourn my virginity with my companions.” “Go,” he replied, and sent her away for two months. So she departed with her companions and mourned her virginity on the mountains. At the end of the two months she returned to her father, who did to her as he had vowed.

Responsorial Psalm PS 40:5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10

R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Gospel Mt 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

HOMILY

Today is the Feast or the Memorial of Our Lady as Queen. Please bear with me because my reflection will be more on the Feast or Memorial today of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth - the fifth Glorious mystery.

Eight days ago, we also celebrated a Marian Feast - the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when Our Lady was assumed, both body and soul, to heaven. Today, we have another Marian Feast, which is the Queenship of Mary. This feast was proclaimed by Pope Pious XII on October 11, 1954, through his encyclical letter 'Ad Coeli Reginam' or 'to the heavenly queen' or the 'Queen of Heaven'.

May I now ask you a question - how is one called a 'mother' or a 'father'? Normally, when one gets married and bears a son or daughter, one becomes a mother or a father. Because if one does not bear a child, one cannot be called a 'mother' or a 'father'. One is merely a wife or a husband. This is logically speaking. Of course, we are not talking here about spiritual motherhood or spiritual fatherhood, but the normal biological process. And the Feast that we celebrate today speaks to us about this wisdom - Mary as the Mother of Jesus. Now, putting this into the context of our celebration today, if Jesus is God, then Mary is the Mother of God. So if Jesus is King, then Mary is the Mother of a King. Therefore, she is a Queen Mother.

But all these titles of Mary are actually privileges given to her by God. All the privileges of Mary are given by God as a gift to her, because God has chosen her to become the Mother of the Messiah, the Savior of the World. It is a great honor, yet Mary always remained humble. Mary's Queenship is not about dictating and abusing authority, but like her Son, she, too, came, not to be served, but to serve.

It is unfortunate that some of the leaders in our country are here, not to serve, but to be served. Binago nila ang statement ni Jesus. Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Your Word." The life of Mary is a life of saying 'yes' to the will of God. And all of us, as children of Mary, are also given this opportunity. For as long as we are breathing, as long as we are still alive, we are given a chance every day to renew our commitment to Jesus the King. The Queen Mother always leads people to her Son, and not to herself. That's why when priests draw people to themselves - when we draw you to ourselves - then we fail as shepherds of Jesus, because we do not bring you to Jesus and to the Kingdom of God.

All of us are given the opportunity to share like queens and kings also. Our rosaries, our Marian novenas and celebrations, are ways and means through which our Mama Mary leads us to her Son. May we become loyal subjects of the Kingdom of God - to our King, our Lord Jesus Christ.  

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.