Gospel Reflection

August 15, 2012

Wednesday

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

by Rev. Fr. Nilo Mangussad

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10

Psalm:                         Psalm 45:10-12, 16

Second Reading:          1 Corinthians 15:20-27

Gospel:                        Luke 1:39-56                

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

HOMILY

Father Nilo focused on the Assumption and informed that the Dogma of the Assumption came late in the 1950's, because the Pope then wanted to make sure about the proclamation. The Assumption of Mama Mary speaks of our faith, as we believe that we will also be assumed into heaven - (could be body only, could be soul only, we don’t know) - if we also submit ourselves to the will of God like Mama Mary did.

Mama Mary was a perfect example of fully submitting to God’s will. If Mama Mary asserted herself as a human, and did not trust and obeyed God, then maybe Jesus wasn’t born.

Father Nilo asks us to examine ourselves – how much of Mama Mary’s virtues are we putting in our lives? Are we willing to submit to the will of man or of God?

Gospel Reflection

August 14, 2012

Tuesday

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest, Martyr (Memorial)

by Rev. Fr. Edward Castro (Rector Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Makati)

Megamall

First Reading:               1 John 3:13-18

Psalm:                         Psalm 116:10-13, 16-17

Gospel:                        John 15:12-17              

12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 This I command you, to love one another.

HOMILY

The Gospel today says ‘unless we become like children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven’. Like children, we should be humble and open to accept God’s love and to assimilate God’s word, that it becomes part of our being.

Only by being little children are we able to openly welcome God, depending on Him fully, and follow His Ways without question, without reservation. It is only by being little children that we can also willingly share God’s blessings to others, without expecting anything, and become life-giving. Let us pray for the grace to become God’s little ones despite difficulties, so that when  time comes, we may deserve to enter the sweet Kingdom of Heaven.

 

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe – Pray for us

Gospel Reflection

 

 

August 12, 2012

Sunday

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Caloy Reyes

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:               1 Kings 19:4-8

Psalm:                         Psalm 34:2-9

Second Reading:           Ephesians 4:30 -- 5:2

Gospel:                        John 6:41-51    

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42 They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, `I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."

HOMILY

The Gospel for this Sunday is still about Jesus as the Bread of Life. Jesus is the true and ultimate Sacrificial Lamb and through His most loving sacrifice and giving of His precious Body and Blood, He has drawn us back to the Father and saved us. And if He saved us then, He will save us now.

Si Jesus ay laging nasa atin every time we partake of His Body in Holy Communion. Nasa loob na natin si Hesus pag na-receive na natin Siya sa Holy Communion kaya wala nang makakapaghiwalay sa atin sa Kanya. Dahil nasa atin si Hesus, ang lahat ng nararamdaman at nararanasan natin ay nararamdaman at nararanasan din Niya. Kaya di daw tayo dapat mawalan ng pag-asa.

We need to ALWAYS recognize Jesus in the host so that as He nourishes us in the Eucharist, our hope and strength are renewed.

 

Gospel Reflection

August 11, 2012

Saturday

St. Clare of Assisi, Virgin, Foundress of II Order (Feast)

by Rev. Fr. Joseph Gil Alonso, Parochial Vicar, Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Makati

Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz, Greenbelt Chapel, Makati

First Reading:               Hosea 2:16, 17, 21-22 or 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, 16-18

Psalm:                         Psalm 45:11-12, 14-16

Gospel:                        John 15:4-10    

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. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

HOMILY

Tungkol pa din sa faith ang theme ng Gospel. Sabi ni Hesus, ‘kung ikaw ay may pananalig nang kahit 'sing liit ng mustasa, walang hindi mo mapangyayari”.

Ang tibay ng pananampalataya sa Diyos at pagmamahal ng mga Pilipino sa kapwa ay pinalalalim ng mga bagyo sa ating buhay. Kahit nahihirapan tayo, nakangiti pa rin tayo, walang bitterness. We take things with hope, because of our faith in God, kahit na raw may Rumaragasang Habagat or RH, sabi ni Father J

Kailangan nating samahan ang ating pananampalataya ng pagdarasal at pag aayuno. We have to constantly persevere to pray at hayaan natin ang Panginoon na gumabay at tumugon sa atin, sa ating pagdarasal.

St. Clare of Assisi – Pray for us

Gospel Reflection

August 10, 2012

Friday

St. Lawrence, Deacon, Martyr (Feast)

by Msgr. Bong Lo

Megamall

First Reading:               2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Psalm:                         Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9

Gospel:                        John 12:24-26  

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.

HOMILY

Father Bong emphasized on both the Reading (being a cheerful giver) and the Gospel (“Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”)

Msgr. Said that as God dies for us, we must also die to ourselves – die to our childishness, die to our desires and vices, our selfishness/self-centeredness, in order to reach our full potential as Christians, in order for us to have a full life, in order for us to be happy. It is through our sacrifice that we are able to give graciously and nourish and strengthen one another, as Christ has done for us.

 

 

St. Lawrence the Deacon – Pray for us

Gospel Reflection

August 09, 2012

Thursday

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr (Optional Memorial)

by Rev. Fr. Jun Sescon

Greenbelt

First Reading:               Jeremiah 31:31-34

Psalm:                         Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19

Gospel:                        Matthew 16:13-23         

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." 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." 23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."

HOMILY

St, Teresa de Benedicta is a very intelligent Jew and Atheist who was converted into Catholic faith. According to Father Jun, no one is intelligent enough not to believe in God. The faithful strength and service of St. Teresa de Benedicta despite challenges ang dapat nating maging attitude in these trying times.

Father the said that like St. Peter in the Gospel who discovered who Christ really is, let us purify and discover the real image of God for us.

Who do you say God is?

The God we believe in is a God of love, a God of compassion and understanding, a God of strength and peace. Just like St. Teresa de Benedicta and St. Peter, this is how they saw God, thus they remained faithful and strong despite all difficulties.

And this, said Father Jun, is our treasure as Filipinos – our faith in God. Why do Filipinos survive? Bakit nakangiti pa din tayo kahit ang dami nating bagyo sa buhay? It is because of our image of God.

Our God is our strength. We move on with God as our refuge, our hope. This has made us strong despite the physical and moral struggles that happen to us. We pray that no law or bill, or anything remove that faith from us.

Father Jun ended with a prayer:

“Lord, help us to purify our image of you as our God of peace, our God of strength, our God of Love. Strengthen our faith, especially during these difficult times. May our belief in You propel us to help others, and that our charity may be the consolation of our brothers and sisters. Lord, you are more powerful than any on earth. Be with us always, AMEN”.

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Pray for us

Gospel Reflection

August 06, 2012

Monday

The Transfiguration of the Lord (Feast)

By Msgr. Bong Lo

Megamall

First Reading:                Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Psalm:                          Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9

Second Reading:           2 Peter 1:16-19

Gospel:                         Mark 9:2-10      

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, 3 and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Eli'jah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." 8 And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

HOMILY

Despite the struggles, isabuhay natin ang faith and love natin kay God. Let us pray for God’s guidance that step by step and through good works, we may be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ who revealed the glory of His divinity at the Transfiguration.

Gospel Reflection

August 05, 2012

Sunday

(Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

By Rev. Fr Lito Ignacio

Edsa Shrine

First Reading:              Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15

Psalm:                        Psalm 78:3-4, 23-25, 54

Second Reading:          Ephesians 4:17, 20-24

Gospel:                        John 6:24-35    

24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" 32 Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world." 34 They said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

HOMILY

In his homily today, Father Lito still focused on the fight against RH Bill. He advises us to continue to pray for the protection of innocent lives, especially the unborn babies.