Gospel Reflection

July 11, 2012

Wednesday
St. Benedict, Abbot (Memorial)

by Rev. Fr. Nilo Mangussad

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

Psalm:                         Psalm 105:2-7

Gospel:                        Matthew 10:1-7

1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb'edee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

HOMILY

Like St. Benedict and the apostles, we should follow the Lord and not give in to the materiality and allures of the world. Through the wounds of the flesh, we heal the wounds of the soul.

Gospel Reflection

July 10, 2012

Tuesday
St. Veronica Giuliani, Virgin (Feast)

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

12:15pm mass, Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               2 Corinthians 4:6-11, 16, 17

Psalm:                         Psalm 59:2, 10, 17-18  

Gospel:                        Matthew 16:24-27

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? 27 For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done.


HOMILY

Father Joel related that he was invited by his uncle one day to go with him at the seminary, because his uncle wanted to take the entrance exams for seminarians. Di pa nga alam ni Father kung ano ang seminary but he accompanied his uncle anyway.

Then his uncle told him, “Joel mag-exam ka na rin katuwaan lang.” In the end, his uncle did not pass the exams but Father Joel did, and he eventually became a priest.

Father Joel shared his story to show us that in life, God will pave the way for us to discover our mission. Sometimes, we pursue something, only because it is our ambition, and not our mission. For example, one would want to be a doctor, only to earn and be popular, but not to be able to help others, especially the poor.

God wants to tell us that we are made, not only for success, but more for significance. We continue to pursue our goals and ambitions, but live them in the spirit of mission. Let us pray that God may help us discover and do our mission for the greater good and for God’s greater glory, not our own.

Gospel Reflection

July 09, 2012

Monday
Weekday

Megamall

First Reading:               Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22  

Psalm:                         Psalm 145:2-9  

Gospel:                        Matthew 9:18-26

18 While he was thus speaking to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; 21 for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well." 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, 24 he said, "Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

HOMILY

In life, there are two events. One is called ‘intrusive events’. These are external events that come from without. Those that come unexpectedly like an illness, problem with a relationship, sudden death, etc. And there is what we call ‘internal upspring’ - those that come from within us, like disappointments, attacks of guilt, anger, etc. Sometimes, it is the intrusive events that bring about the internal upspring within us.

Minsan nga daw sobrang tagal na ng intrusive events, ng mga pagsubok sa buhay na di natin alam kung kailan ba matatapos, kung ano at kailan ang kasagutan.

But let us not lose hope and instead strengthen our faith more. Let us pray that God may guide us through these challenges. Who knows – these events may be God’s way of re-ordering things for us. God is always with us in trying times. And with God, we do not lose, but we become. 

Gospel Reflection

July 08, 2012

Sunday
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Chris Habal

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               Ezekiel 2:2-5   

Psalm:                         Psalm 123:1-4   

Second Reading:          2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Gospel:                        Mark 6:1-6

1 He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

HOMILY

Father Chris said that knowing Jesus is not just knowing His story, but knowing Him deeper by following His good example and having a close relationship with Him. Only then can we truly proclaim and share God’s word and presence to others.

Gospel Reflection

July 07, 2012

Saturday

Anticipated Sunday Mass (Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (MSSP – Quezon City)

MSSP House / Mass for the poor

First Reading:               Ezekiel 2:2-5  

Psalm:                         Psalm 123:1-4  

Second Reading:           2 Corinthians 12:7-10  

Gospel:                        Mark 6:1-6

1 He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.


HOMILY

Most of us know the definition of an "expert": anyone who comes from more than fifty miles away or five hundred miles dressed in fine clothes.  We seem to have a problem with closeness, with the ordinary, with the everyday.  We percieve those around us as they have nothing to contribute to us.

Why?  Sometimes we say “Who does he think he is!”,  Sometimes we are jealous of the gifts God may have given to others and not to us? And so we reject their suggestions, their help and by rejecting them it is we who loose.

I have a personal experience of a 15 year old young man, Saviour, was attending our weekly prayer meeting and Sunday mass.  His parents at home were having hard time, they quarrelled frequently, had so much tension at work in their business.  Saviour used to invite his parents on Sunday for the mass but they never had time.  Once, they decided to come with him.  What happened ?? They did not say “who does he think he is?”  No ... although he was their son ... they listened and went to the mass and continued going.  They started going also going the prayer meetings on Mondays and are active members in the MSSP Lay Community.. and today they say... our son saved our lives... but the truth is not only their son saved their life and marriage but their openness, their humility to listen to someone less important than them.

 God does not speak only through experts and movie stars. God  is all around us, speaking to us through the most unlikely people.

• God speaks through your children, sometimes through a disabled person or someone you have low regard to him/her. 
• If you are still student, God speaks not only through the teachers but also through your classmates.   

Some days ago I was having a spiritual direction to one of the youths. And after I held the hands of this young person and prayed for him, he asked me whether he can pray for me... I didn’t say “who do you think you are to pray on a priest” but said “of course”... Believe me it was such a beautiful prayer coming from his heart that I could feel its coming from God... he is still young, still discovering his faith but God spoke through him.

The people we heard in the Gospel when Jesus spoke to them “They took offense at Him”. 

Why?

For them Jesus was a common man, son of a carpenter.  They couldn’t see beyond.  They couldn t believe that his words are powerful even if they saw some miracles they wouldn’t accept it.  Jesus was inviting them to go beyond what they knew about him and to enter into a relationship of faith.  To believe that God uses the weakness to show his strength.  As st. Paul says today: “Sapagkat kung kalian ako mahina, saka naman ako malakas.”

So let us be with our ears and hearts open to listen to everyone as everyone can be the voice of God to us. And not to reject the prophets that God sends us but be humble enough to listen and act on what God is telling us through them.

Gospel Reflection

July 07, 2012

First Saturday
Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Rev. Fr.  Matthieu Dauchez

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               Amos 9:11-15  

Psalm:                         Psalm 85:9-14  

Gospel:                        Matthew 9:14-17  

14Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 15And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16And no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

HOMILY

Father Matthew stressed the importance of consistency – if we say good things, we should translate these into good action. We have to be consistent both in word and in deed. 

Gospel Reflection

July 06, 2012

Friday
St. Maria Goretti, Virgin, Martyr (Optional Memorial)

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               Amos 8:4-6, 9-12

Psalm:                         Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131  

Gospel:                        Matthew 9:9-13  

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. 10 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

HOMILY

The priest had four reflections,

First, he said, God is a God of mercy, kahit ano pa ang pinagdadaanan natin o kung ano man ang kasalanan natin.

Second, though God is merciful, He cannot give His mercy to us if our hearts are closed to receive it. Our hearts have to be open, ready and available to receive God’s mercy and grace -no but’s, no if's.

Third, God is a God of hope. He will not give up on us, no matter how sinful we are. That's why Jesus said. “It is the sick who needs a physician’. God will always give us the opportunity, the breakthrough. Nothing is too late for God.

Fourth, God teaches us the importance of our work. It is in our work – what we do – that we encounter God. Let us do our work well and be faithful to the kind of life that God has given us. We should show holiness even in ordinary things.

Gospel Reflection

June 29, 2012

Friday
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles (Solemnity)

by Rev. Fr. Chris Habal

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               Acts 12:1-11

Psalm:                         Psalm 34:2-9  

Second Reading:          2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

Gospel:                        Matthew 16:13-19

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

HOMILY

First, like Sts. Peter and Paul, doing good was not just an obligation or a moral standard, but is a personal encounter God. We should do good not out of forced duty but because we have a personal loving relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ.

Second, although Sts. Peter and Paul are considered pillars of our catholic faith, they were also weak individuals, with Paul even being a persecutor of the Church. But it is through these weaknesses that God has transformed them. We should not lose hope or be afraid of our weaknesses, therefore, and instead pray and allow God to use these weaknesses to transform us to perfection.

Third and last, we should continue to be faithful witnesses of God - to be faithful witnesses of God and His Word, whether others accept us or not. Like Sts. Peter and Paul, we should not be afraid of rejection and continue to be undying witnesses of God through love and good actions, that we may lead others to heaven, our eternal home.

Gospel Reflection

June 28, 2012

Thursday
St. Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr (Memorial)

by Msgr. Bong Lo

Megamall

First Reading:   2 Kings 24:8-17

Psalm:             Psalm 79:1-5, 8-9

Gospel:            Matthew 7:21-29

21 "Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' 24 "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

HOMILY

Even if one is always in the church praying, preaching, serving, but only do these to show a good image to others, then he is just like a zombie – moving, existing but without life. Only by following the will of God for His glory (being good, humble, forgiving, charitable, understanding and more) can we have fullness of life. So let’s continue to do good and inspire others to do the same.

Gospel Reflection

May 05, 2012

Saturday

Easter Weekday

Anticipated Sunday Mass (Fifth Sunday of Easter)

by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (MSSP – Quezon City)

MSSP House / Mass for the poor

First Reading:               Acts 9:26-31

Psalm:                         Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32

Second Reading:          1 John 3:18-24

Gospel:                        John 15:1-8

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.

HOMILY

Which is the verb/word most used today?  “Manatili” remain, abide, come to stay, live...

Stay attached to Me says Jesus.  Like a branch attached to the tree.  Branch takes its energy form the trunk and can stay alive only if it remains attached to the tree.

            If you cut a branch will it die immediately... no! but eventually it will die and dry.  Our life is the same.  Sometimes we say... “I can live without God”, “I am too busy for Him”, “I don’t need Him”.  Yes for some short  time I can still live but eventually you will be condemning yourself, cutting yourself from the source of life and you start to dry towards a slow death... a spiritual death leading to sadness, desperation, depression, helplessness, quarrels and destruction of peace in your heart and with everyone.

Jesus says today “remain in me”.  8 times he says it: this shows how important it is.

            Why remain in Jesus? – to bear fruit ... to have meaning in your life.  What is the use of a vine that does not produce grapes? Its useless. To have meaning in life I have to be like a tree with fruit.  What are the fruits of a Christian?  St Paul to the Galatians tells us what are these fruits... as I mention them try to check whether they are present in your heart and in your life.

Gal 5:22-23 Ang bunga naman ng espiritu ay:  pag-ibig (love), tuwa(joy), kapayapaan(peace), pagtitiis (endurance) , kagandahang-loob(kindness), kabutihan (goodness) , pagti­tiwala (faithfulness), kahinahunan(gentleness) , pagti­timpi (self-control).

If I have all of these means that I am attached to Jesus completely... if some are not there  means that I have to strengthen my bond and my faith in Jesu.

            How to remain in Jesus?  Malinaw ang sagot ! Sinabi ngayon sa unang sulat ni Apostol San Juan,  “ang sumusunod sa mga utos ng Diyos ay nananatili sa Diyos. Ito ang kanyang utos: manalig tayo sa kanyang Anak na si Hesukristo, at mag-ibigan.”

The two are very important.  Some Protestants go around saying that you are saved only by faith. Its true we are saved by faith but faith has to be accompanied by actions of love.  We are saved, truly,  but we have to remain with him.  

I am baptised, I am saved but i need to remain with Jesus. Its not enough to say I believe in Jesus Christ but to also i need to do what he commands. 

            It’s good today to ask ourselves:

• How much do I believe that God saves me?
• How much I believe in Jesus... that he is with me in my difficulties and sufferings?
• How much do I practice love in my family, how much do I forgive those who wrong me, how much do I look at the needs of others before my own needs?

My last point is:  the gardener prunes the tree to make more fruit. Five times we are told to bear fruit.  Every knows the value and necessity of pruning.  The hard work of cutting away what is dead, unwanted, or overgrown is rewarded by new growth and more fruit.

My last question is what things need to be cut from my life so that I might have more fruit, more love, more patience, and more joy?  What attitudes, what thoughts, what plans, what sins need to be cut to be stronger and bear more fruit?