Gospel Reflection

October 13, 2012

Saturday - Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev. Fr. Dave Buenaventura, (SDB)

Mass, St. John Bosco Parish Church, Makati

Reading 1 Gal 3:22-29

Brothers and sisters: Scripture confined all things under the power of sin, that through faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe. Before faith came, we were held in custody under law, confined for the faith that was to be revealed. Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian. For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Lk 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." He replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."

HOMILY

Allow me to share with you a very brief reflection on our very short Gospel for today’s liturgy. 

We heard in the Gospel, when the woman in the crowd praised Jesus by praising Mary, Jesus did not deny the truth of what the woman pronounced. Jesus confirmed what Mother Mary said to herself, “All generations will call me blessed.” But Jesus adds something more to what the woman said, by pointing to the source of the blessedness and the happiness of his Mother, and this is Mary’s union with God – that was the source of the blessedness and happiness of Mother Mary.

Mary humbly submitted herself to the miraculous plan of God, for the incarnation of His only begotten Son. The Word of God was made flesh in her womb. Mary declared, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to Your Word”. Mary heard the words spoken to her by the Angel and she believed it. On another occasion, Jesus pointed what it meant to be united with God. In Luke Chapter 8, verse 24, we read this: “Listen to the Word of God, and live it in your daily life." Do this and you will be united with God.

My dear brothers and sisters, our goal in life - the very reason we were created in the first place - is for union with God. We were made for God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him. These are the words of St. Augustine. It is said that a Christian's only relatives are the saints - men and women united with God. Those who follow Jesus and do the will of God enter into a big family - the family of saints here on earth and in heaven. The Lord changes the order of relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and of blood, but rather, it is a matter of flesh, of blood, and of the spirit. 

My Word of God for you this morning is this: "Though my heart is restless until it rests in You, let me know the joy of Your presence, and increase my hunger for Your Word. May I always prefer Your will over my will, and seek to please You in all things, Amen."

 

Gospel Reflection

October 12, 2012

Friday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev.  Fr. Nilo Mangussad (Rector Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish)

Mass at EDSA Shrine/Shire of Mary, Queen of Peace/Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish

Reading 1 Gal 3:7-14

Brothers and sisters: Realize that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham. Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, Through you shall all the nations be blessed. Consequently, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law. And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for the one who is righteous by faith will live. But the law does not depend on faith; rather, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

Gospel Lk 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons." Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

"When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, 'I shall return to my home from which I came.' But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first."

HOMILY

Faith is what has been given to us since the time of Abraham, as shown in the First Reading today. It is faith that unites us to one another. It is faith that brings harmony and peace to all men.

The law, according to the First Reading, is given, to help us put into practice what faith is. But if the law disunites, then it no longer becomes a tool of faith, and is thus cursed, as shown in the First Reading.

In the Gospel, Jesus was accused of being able to drive out demons through the power of Beelzebul. Beelzebul is the anti-thesis of faith, because Beelzebul harbors and promotes disunity, confusion and fear. But Jesus is the epitome of faith; He cannot be acting according to Beelzebul.

My dear brothers and sisters, we are being challenged today. What is truly happening deep inside our hearts - is it the unity of our faith or the disunity of Beelzebul? What lies inside our soul? Is it the power or strength that we have in Christ, or the disuniting power of the other? It is good to be reflective of what the Gospel is trying to say. Because even we clean up the room of our hearts, if we do not have enough faith, more demons will enter us.

Do we really put into practice the faith that we received in Jesus Christ? Because if we do, not even 70 times 7,000 Beelzebul's can re-enter this faith-protected heart and soul of ours.

Gospel Reflection

October 11, 2012

Thursday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev.  Fr. Chris Habal

Morning Mass at EDSA Shrine, Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish

Reading 1 Gal 3:1-5

O stupid Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? I want to learn only this from you: did you receive the Spirit from works of the law, or from faith in what you heard? Are you so stupid? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? Did you experience so many things in vain?-- if indeed it was in vain. Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard?

Responsorial Psalm Lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75

R. (68) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to his people.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to his people.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to his people.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to his people.

Gospel Lk 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,' and he says in reply from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

HOMILY

In the reading today, St. Paul told the Christians of Galatia "stupid". Sabi nga nila, galit si St. Paul sa mga taga-Galatia. At bakit siya nagagalit sa mga Galatians? It is because St. Paul was the one who founded the Church in Galatia. He was the one who preached to them about Jesus - about the Gospel of Jesus. He was the one who gathered them for the Eucharist. He was the father of the Galatian Christian community. We know that St. Paul is ephemeral; he moved from one place to another. So when he thought that the Christian community in Galatia was a bit stable, he moved to other places. But he learned that the Galatians, whom he gathered in faith and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reverted to their old way of life, that after their beginning in the spirit, they are now ending with the flesh.
 
'Yon ang dahilan ng galit ni St. Paul. And my dear brothers and sisters, we can apply this to ourselves - to our modern times. Many places, many countries are formed by Christian culture, formed by Christian ideals. Let us take for example, Europe. Europe has been formed by Christian culture - by Christian faith. But we can see now what we call secularization - the gradual setting aside of faith, gradually taking faith out of public life, out of people's lives. That is the reality of the modern times. Maraming magagandang nangyayari sa ating panahon, but we should also be on guard with regard to this secularization mindset - taking away God from the picture.
 
In that context, we could understand the Year of Faith. The Holy Father declared today, October 11, until November 24 next year, as the Year of Faith, inviting the whole Church to rediscover our faith in Christ once again, for each one of us to re-study and go back to our catechism, for us to re-study the truths that we believe in as Christians, to celebrate the sacraments of faith, especially the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation as real mysteries of faith, and opportunities to encounter the living Jesus. The Year of Faith is also a Year of Mission - a year of new evangelization. The bishops are now in a synod on new evangelization - thinking, reflecting on how the Church can respond anew to this challenge of bringing the Gospel to all.
 
And we are all invoked in this, my dear brothers and sisters. Let us not allow this Year of Faith pass without deepening our own faith and conviction, and be a witness to Jesus and his Church. Let us not allow this Year of Faith to pass without leading someone to Christ, without leading someone to His Church, without leading someone to encounter the living Jesus.
 
When we turn to the Gospel, Jesus continues to teach us the ways of prayer. Yesterday, we heard Jesus teaching his disciples 'the Lord's prayer'. Now, He is teaching us the basic disposition of prayer. Number one is persistence, perseverance, of not giving up in prayer. We do not give up in prayer, even at times, what we need seems to be a miracle. Even at times, what we ask for, and the things happening around us seem to be contradictory to each other, we should not give up, we persevere in prayer. Because we know that if we ask, we shall receive. If we continue to seek, we shall find. If we don't stop knocking at the heart of Jesus, He will open the door for us.
 
But my dear brothers and sisters, this attitude of perseverance, of persistence, of not giving up, is not simply a human effort - 'yong patatagan ng loob, patigasan ng loob - NO. This attitude, if this should be applied to prayer, must be rooted on something very basic - on trust. We don't simply give up, because we trust the Lord. We persevere because we trust He knows what we need, He knows what is best for us. That is why toward the end of the Gospel, Jesus would say, "If you then who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit, to those who ask of Him?" Yes, our persistence, our perseverance, our never giving up, is dependent on our amount of trust, our degree of faith. Our trust that the Lord knows what we need, that the Lord is Father to us, that He is caring for us.
 
So let us learn from Jesus' way of prayer, especially in this Year of Faith. Prayer is an indispensable way to deepen our faith, to deepen our trust in God. Because prayer is actually an encounter with a God who loves us, who knows us, who cares for us, Amen.

Gospel Reflection

October 10, 2012

Wednesday - Weekday

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

Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Gal 2:1-2, 7-14

Brothers and sisters: After fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. I went up in accord with a revelation, and I presented to them the Gospel that I preach to the Gentiles-- but privately to those of repute-- so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised,
just as Peter to the circumcised, for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles, and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars,
gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do.

And when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong. For, until some people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to draw back and separated himself, because he was afraid of the circumcised. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not on the right road in line with the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all, "If you, though a Jew, are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

Responsorial Psalm Ps 117:1bc, 2

R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations,
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

Gospel Lk 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test."

HOMILY

Tomorrow is October 11, and I don't know if you are all aware what is going to happen tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a significant day in the calendar of the Church, as the Holy Father will formally open the Year of Faith, and this will end on November 24, 2013. The Holy Father will be opening a whole year dedicated to the faith. In fact in relation to this, the Holy Father has written an Apostolic letter entitled 'Porta Fidei', which means "The Door of Faith". And in that letter, the Holy Father tells us about dedicating one whole year of re-acquainting ourselves to the mystery of our faith.

Ano 'yong significance ng date na ito? October 11 is the anniversary of the opening of Vatican II or the Vatican Council. And tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of Vatican II, pero ang karamihan sa atin ay hindi pa rin naririnig kung ano ang Vatican II. The Vatican Council is the gathering of the Bishops from around the world, and 50 years ago, on October 11, 1962, the bishops and cardinals of the world gathered together in order to reflect on what it means to become a Church. Ito ay panahon ng pagninilay ng buong Simbahan, kasama ang Santo Papa. And out of that Council came 16 documents. Sino sa inyo ang nakabasa ng 16 documents of Vatican II? Ako hindi ko pa rin nababasa lahat, paunti-unti lang. But I think this is what Pope Benedict XVI is saying - we need to go back to the roots of our faith.

Alam po ninyo, marami pong mga Katoliko ngayon ang unti-unti nang nawawala sa pananampalataya. I once heard that in the United States, the second biggest Christian denomination after Catholics is - the group of ex-Catholics. They are leaving the Church. But if you ask them why, you will discover that they are leaving the Church that they hardly knew. Naaakit sila ng iba pang mga turo. Katulad ng narinig natin sa Unang Pagbasa ngayon, in the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians - St. Paul is telling the people of Galatia that we should treasure the faith that Jesus has given us. He was telling the Galatians "Do not leave the faith that Jesus has died for and gave to you". Hindi pa man lumalalim ang kanilang pananampalataya kay Hesus, sila ay naaakit na ng iba't ibang uri ng pananampalataya.

I think the same challenge is being given to us today. Do you know your faith? Or how well do you know your faith? This is the reason why Pope Benedict XVI is dedicating a full year for us to revisit the roots of our faith. And during the Year of Faith, dalawa ang documents na gusto ng Santo Papa na balikan natin. At ang una po ay ang "Catechism of the Catholic Church". How many among us here has a copy of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church"? And for those who have, how many have read the "Catechism of the Catholic Church"? Siguro po during this Year of Faith, magandang Christmas gift ninyo 'yan sa inyong sarili. If you do not have a copy of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church", buy one, and begin reading on the richness of our faith. Because unless we know our faith, it will be very easy for us to be swayed by other faiths.

Paul might as well have been talking to each and every one of us. Madali tayong maaakit ng iba't ibang doktrina kapag hindi po natin kinilala at pinagtibay ang ating pananampalataya. As we enter into the Year of Faith tomorrow, and as the Holy Father begins and opens the Year of Faith, let us pray that we may enter the Door of Faith and rediscover once again the richness of our God-given heritage.