Gospel Reflection

January 19, 2014

Sunday – Ordinary Time

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Most Rev. Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco, D.D., S.Th.L (Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cubao)
6:00PM, Tagalog Sunday Anticipated Mass (Sto. Nino Fiesta High Mass)
Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel (Greenbelt Chapel), Makati

Reading 1 is 49:3, 5-6

The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

R/ (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts 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 am I, 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 am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

 

Reading 2 1 cor 1:1-3

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Gospel jn 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

HOMILY

We are reminded, my dear friends, that Christmas does not end on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Christmas takes place in the heart. Whenever we proclaim or manifest God's love, it is Christmas. Pakiusap lamang po, to those who still have Christmas decorations in their homes, you can keep the trimmings in the boxes, but please don't keep Jesus in the box. Carry Jesus in your heart, for that is what the world needs now. Jesus as our light, Jesus as our only hope, Jesus as our only teacher.

The Feast today reminds us that we should continue the work of Jesus. There is a beautiful song that goes like this, "When the songs of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the princes and kings are back home, when the shepherds are back to their flocks, then the work of Christmas begins...to find the lost, to heal the broken, to give peace to those who are in trouble, and to make music in the heart." Do you know that song? No? Then I will sing it for you. (loud laughs, even Bishop laughs) So, sana po, we will continue the work of Christmas.

Kasi po, I notice, after the Christmas holidays, everything is gone. Sayang naman. I am sure we received so many graces. And like Mary, we should ponder the blessings that we have received during Christmas, and continue to nurture these graces so that they may grow.

In the Feast that we are celebrating today, the Feast of the Child Jesus, I am reminded of one image that Jesus uses to describe the Kingdom of God, and that it is like a mustard seed. It is one of the smallest seeds, and yet, when it is planted, it grows into a big tree, so much so that the birds of the air can take shelter under its leaves. That's the image of the Kingdom of God, and that is what I think about our devotion to the Child Jesus. Our faith in God may start with something small but we hope that through the years, it will continue to grow as we nurture it through prayer, through the sacraments, through the Word of God. Devotions are meant to nurture our faith; however, sometimes, we get so comfortable with some of our devotions. Hanggang doon lang tayo. And we are challenged to grow each year. 

In our culture, we have a strong love for children, isn't it? That is why one of the favorite devotions in the Philippines is the devotion to the Child Jesus. And yet, we are reminded that this Child will continue to grow, advance in grace, wisdom and age. It is now 2014, and it is another year in our age. Have we grown in grace with God and men? Have we grown in wisdom, o ayaw pa rin? God wants us to grow in our personal relationship with him. And so our devotion to Sto. Nino is an important vehicle, an important means of precisely maturing in our Christian faith. Our faith should not just be me, myself and my God - tapos. No. We are asked to share this faith. The joy of encountering Jesus is meant to be shared to the world. 

I am sure many of you remember the Gospel yesterday, if you went to mass or go to church every day. And what was the Gospel yesterday? It is about the paralytic. There was a paralytic who was carried by four of his friends. And they could not just enter the house where Jesus was, because there was a thick crowd. So they tried to pass through the roof. And what did we hear in the Gospel? Jesus was touched by their faith. It was the faith of the friends, and perhaps even the paralytic's little faith, that moved Jesus to heal him and to forgive his sins. What's my point? Again, our faith is an important factor in helping people grow in their faith. That is the beauty of growing in our devotion - becoming more and more devoted to Jesus. 

Let us not forget that Jesus grew up and matured, until He offered Himself on the Cross. We are challenged to follow the footsteps of Jesus, and what is one way? We need to imitate children. Jesus, Himself, tells us that unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Perhaps we can reflect on some of the qualities that we may have given up, and perhaps must reclaim for ourselves. What are those qualities? 

Number one - simplicity. Today, we have made life very complicated. Children are very simple; they don't look for fame, power, authority, wealth, riches. Tayo pag malaki na, minsan ang sinasabi natin, "Kilala mo ba kung sino ako?" Ayan. Does it ring a bell? (laughs) But who are we? We are all sinners before God. We cannot brag about anything. We live in the mercy and love of God. Who are we before God? We must be simple. Let us remember who we are - sinners who are dependent on God's love, compassion and mercy. Simple. Not after fame, walang paligsahan. Sometimes, in the corporate or business world, minsan tapakan sila. And when we step on each other, we destroy each other. Remember - when you put someone down, you are putting down your very self. Because all of us are members of the one great family of God. So live a simple life; let not riches block our personal relationship with Jesus. What do you consider your treasure? What is valuable to you - faith, your relationship with Jesus, people? When children look at us, they will not tell you that you are a doctor, or a bishop or a priest. No. Pare-pareho ang tingin ng bata sa atin. Simple lang - tao kang dapat mahalin, tao kang dapat igalang. 'Yon ang tingin ng bata sa atin. They are very spontaneous, sincere, simple. 

Another quality of children that we should reclaim is trust. Trust in the Lord, trust in friends. Minsan wala na tayong tiwala o paniniwala kung minsan. I remember this story - one time, there was a problem with rain in a particular place. The priest asked the community to pray for rain because there is drought. They were afraid that if the drought continues, they will not be able to harvest, and there will be famine in their community. So ngayon, the parish priest spoke and said, 'Let's invite the people to the plaza and pray for rain.' So they all went to the plaza. But something struck the priest which he did not see in himself. There was one person who came. It was a small, young boy. They were praying for rain, but the boy is already carrying an umbrella. (laughs) So nakita n'yo, simple lang ang panalangin ng bata, na siya ay pakikinggan ng Panginoon. Trust. 

How much trust in the Lord have we? Sometimes, we want to control or change the mind of God. Let us stop manipulating God. God will always be there for us, no matter what happens. This is what the Second Reading tells us. Let us not cease giving thanks to the Lord for He will always be there to support us, to give us life. If God does not support us, we will turn into nothing at this moment. If we are able to breathe, we are able to pray, we are able to participate in this Eucharist, it is because God continues to sustain us with His love. God continues to give us life. Kailanman ay hindi tayo iiwanan ng Diyos. Lagi tayong binubuhay ng Diyos. Let us have a trusting heart like children. 

How is your faith? How is your trust in God? How is your personal relationship with the Father? Let's pray that through the Child Jesus, we may grow in grace and reclaim the important traits of a child of God - simplicity, spontaneity, and having deep faith and trust in God. God always desires what is best for us. Believe, trust, and you will always be happy and free. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

January 18, 2014

Saturday – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. (Major) Daniel D. Tansip, VHS (Vicar Forane, Vicariate of Palawan, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines)

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

Reading 1 1 sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.

Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.” Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals.

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.”

Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish.”

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying: “The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.

“This will be the sign for you that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

 

Responsorial Psalm ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
For you made him a blessing forever;
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

 

Gospel mk 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

HOMILY

Marami po sa ating mga Pilipino ang madasalin. Marami po sa atin ang relihiyoso. At makikita natin ito sapagkat marami sa atin ang nagsisimba, hindi lamang tuwing Linggo, kundi araw-araw. Marami rin sa ating mga Pilipino ang namamanata. Kaya naman malapit sa puso ng mga Pilipino ang debosyon sa Black Nazarene. Nakita natin noong January 9 ang napakaraming deboto sa Nazareno. Kahit na sila ay nasasaktan, sila ay nagtitiyaga, makahipo lamang sa Nazareno.

Marami din po sa atin ang deboto ng ating patron sa Greenbelt Chapel na si Sto. Nino. Sa Cebu, siguradong bukas ay punong-puno ang simbahan ng mga deboto ni Sto. Nino. Sana po ang debosyong ito ay hindi mauwi sa isang palabas lang, na hindi naman nagpapalawig ng ating ugnayan sa Diyos. Ito po ay hindi isang agimat. Sana hindi lamang po manatili sa pamamanata ang ating debosyon. Ito ay dapat magpalalim ng ating pananampalataya, na siyang magiging daan upang maging mabuting tao tayo. Pagkatapos ng piyesta, ano na? Balik ka ba sa dating gawi, o may nagbago sa iyo? Maging aware po tayo kung saan na po ba tayo dinadala ng ating pagsisimba o pagdarasal. 

Ngayon ay binuksan na po natin ang bagong panahon sa ating simbahan - ang Ordinaryong Panahon, pagkatapos ng panahon ng Kapaskuhan na natapos sa Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Ang Ordinaryong Panahon po ay 7 1/2 weeks na paghahanda bago ang Lenten season. Ano ang gagawin natin? Ano ang paghahandaan natin? 

Nakikipag-usap sa atin si Kristo at dahil dito ay nagkakaroon tayo ng kakayahan na magkaroon ng transformation to His image and likeness - an image of godliness, with a God-like attitude. The Ordinary Season will prepare us toward the Lenten season and will keep us aware of the presence of Jesus within us. Ang Ordinaryong panahon ang magdadala sa atin sa pagninilay sa mga salita ni Kristo at tulad ng sa ating mga Pagbasa, ay magpapa-alala po sa atin na lahat po tayo ay tinawag na maging disipulo ng Panginoon sa iba't ibang pamamaraan. At tinitiyak ng Panginoon na tayo ay makatutugon sa pagtawag Niya. At sa patuloy ng pagninilay ng Kanyang Salita, sa ating araw-araw na pamumuhay, bibigyan Niya tayo ng kakayanan na sumunod kay Kristo. 

Kaya magandang tanungin natin sa simula ng ating paglalakbay sa Ordinaryong Panahon - paano tayo magiging tapat sa ating bokasyon? Una ay ang pagpapatuloy sa pakikinig ng Salita ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pagsisimba. Ikalawa ay ang pagsasabuhay ng gospel values, ng Salita ng Diyos na na-aayon sa nais ng Diyos na mangyari sa atin bilang mga binyagan ng Diyos at mga tinawag Niya. Ikatlo ay ang pagpapatuloy na pagdarasal araw-araw. Minsan po ay naiisip natin na paulit-ulit lang ang ating dasal. Ngunit huwag po tayong manghinawa, huwag po tayong mapagod, huwag po tayong mawalan ng gana, kapag tayo ay nagdarasal. Kahit na tayo ay nasa Ordinaryong Panahon sa ating Simbahan, ang ibig sabihin ay walang masyadong pagdiriwang, gamitin po natin ang pagkakataong ito upang personal na maghanda ng ating sarili nang sa gayon, kapag pumasok na ang panahon ng Kuwaresma o Lenten season, masasabi nating totoo nga na napaghandaan natin ang paanyaya ng Diyos sa ating lahat na tinawag Niya. Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

November 03, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Fr. Alex Clemente, RCJ (Vice Rector and Prefect, Rogationist Order, Rogationist Seminary-Manila)

7:15AM Mass, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel (Greenbelt Chapel), Makati

Reading 1 Wis 11:22-12:2

Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth. But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people's sins that they may repent. For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned. And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you? But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things! Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14

R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

Reading 2 2 Thes 1:11-2:2

Brothers and sisters: We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.

Gospel Lk 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.  Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house."  And he came down quickly and received him with joy.  When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."  But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."

HOMILY

Today's Liturgy is focused on the characteristics of God. All the readings that we have heard reveal to us who God is. In the First Reading from the Book of Wisdom, it is revealed that our God is a God of mercy. He is a God of compassion. He is a God of forgiveness. The Responsorial Psalm describes furthermore God's mercy, compassion and forgiveness. He is a God who is rich and great in mercy and kindness. He is a God of opportunity. He gives us a chance to repent, to be good and improve. And in today's Gospel, we have seen the personification of that God in the person of Jesus. He is a God who seeks those who are going astray. He is full of mercy and runs after sinners. 

This is totally opposite from our tendency. Whenever we are offended or hurt, yes, we can forgive, but we expect the other person to make the first move. That is our kind of reasoning, so we wait. But our God is a God who initiates. He is ready to bow down, just to meet the sinners. 

Yes, God is powerful, but His power is manifested in His mercy, in His compassion, in His gentleness. This is totally opposite with the power that we know in this world. In our society, people of power are stiff and feared. We tremble in front of them. We should not disobey them, or we face the consequences. But our God who is powerful is full of gentleness and love.

When Jesus met Zacchaeus, Jesus ran after him, inspired him, and brought him to repentance and conversion. Zacchaeus was a public sinner and I am sure that he was aware of his stature. He was considered a powerful man during that time, but he was aware of his sins. Perhaps he already heard criticisms and have experienced rejections from the people around him. But when Jesus met Zacchaeus, he did not say anything bad about him. Jesus just told Zacchaeus that He needed to stay in his house today. Hindi Niya sinumbatan si Zacchaeus. And Zacchaeus was deeply touched by that power. It was like a magnet that he could not refuse. 

My dear friends, that's the power of God, manifested in His mercy, in His compassion, in His forgiveness. May we be inspired by that mercy, by that power of God. As has been said in one of our readings, may we be consumed also 'like the morning dew in front of the sun'. That was Zacchaeus. He was absorbed by the compassion of Jesus. He was ready to abandon everything, when he told the Lord that he shall give half of his belongings to the poor and pay those who he took advantage of. 

My dear friends, when we truly experience God's compassion and mercy, we cannot but share the same mercy, the same compassion, the same forgiveness to others. And so, if we find it hard to forgive, to understand and to feel sympathy toward our brothers and sisters, let us remember the mercy and compassion that God has freely and generously given to us. Let us pray that we may be like our Lord God and become instruments of God's mercy. Just like Zacchaeus, may we join the company of Jesus, proclaiming the same mercy, the same compassion to other people. May we truly be God's compassion, and may we manifest it to others. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.