Gospel Reflection

October 30, 2012

Tuesday – Weekday – Year of Faith

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

5:30 PM Mass at EDSA Shrine/Shire of Mary, Queen of Peace/Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish

Reading 1 Eph 5:21-33

Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the Church, he himself the savior of the Body. As the Church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the Church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, because we are members of his Body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

or Eph 5:2a, 25-32

Brothers and sisters: Live in love, as Christ loved us. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Gospel Lk 13:18-21

Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches." Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened."

HOMILY

'Pay It Forward' - This wonderful film gives a very wonderful definition of what the Lord is trying to tell us in the parable of the mustard seed. If you do something good, and if only that person you've done good will give it to two others, then we spread the goodness of the Lord. Just like the mustard seed.

It is so wonderful that Jesus talked about this 2,000 years ago, because right now, we are experiencing the effect. 2,000 years ago, he started with twelve. Twelve Apostles. Now, we are over billions of people, Christians and Catholics around the world. We are the recipients of these wonderful branches of the mustard seed.

Likewise, this beautiful parable is given to the husband and wife. Sprinkled with love in their hearts, they start producing the fruits and the branches, as they beget not only children, but also as they come to get in contact with other people spreading God's love.

But we fail to realize the importance of these words. Therefore, it is good to be reflective my brothers and sisters. We as recipients - are we bringing and continuing this generation of love started by Christ to others, or has this love ended in our personal line?

 

Gospel Reflection

October 29, 2012

Monday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev.  Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

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

Reading 1 Eph 4:32-5:8

Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R. (see Eph. 5:1) Behave like God as his very dear children.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.

Gospel Lk 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day." The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?" When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

HOMILY

Mga minamahal kong kapatid, ang sabi ni Hesus, huwag tayong maging mga mapagpa-imbabaw (hypocrites). Ang lahat ng tao ay maaaring maging mapagpa-imbabaw. Ngunit dapat ay hindi natin pahintulutan ang ganitong kasalanan sapagkat ang pagiging mapagpa-imbabaw ay pintuan ng maraming kasalanan. Ito ay bumubunga ng maraming kasalanan.

Ang pagsisinungaling, chismis, paninirang tao ay galing sa kanya. Sa pamamagitan ng 'simpleng' kasalan - hypocrisy - pumapasok ang maraming kasanalan. Ang hypocrisy ay bukal ng maraming kasalanan.

Mga kapatid, huwag nating pabayaang tayo ay maging mapagpa-imbabaw. Huwag nating pabayaan ang ganitong kasalanan. Kahit na sabihin nating normal lang 'yan, simple lang 'yan, maliit lang 'yan, doon papasok ang maraming kasalanan. Amen.

 

 

Gospel Reflection

October 28, 2012

Year of Faith

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Jim Ferry (San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati)

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

Reading 1 Jer 31:7-9

Thus says the LORD: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The LORD has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng. They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Reading 2 Heb 5:1-6

Brothers and sisters: Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: You are my son: this day I have begotten you; just as he says in another place: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Mk 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

HOMILY

The Holy Father has declared officially from this year on October 11 until next year around Christ the King, that we celebrate the Year of Faith. That is exactly what the Gospel today has just proclaimed. The blind man had faith in Jesus. Remember - he never saw Him, but he heard His voice. He did not see any of the miracles that Jesus did, but he heard about Him. So he called out, "Son of David, have mercy on me." Jesus tells his disciples, "Bring him here to me." And then Jesus very simply says to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" This man had such great faith in Jesus, that he was not afraid to ask the question that only the Messiah would be able to respond to. Jesus is the Only one who was prophesied in Jeremiah in the very First Reading. And it was foretold that God will gather the people and bring them together to Him, and He would reveal Himself to them as Father. This is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus says, "I invite you to be one with Me, as I am with my Father, so that when you are one in us, then you possess that wonderful gift of being able to return to the Kingdom of My Father."

Bartimaeus had so much faith in Jesus. And as a consequence of that faith, he quit sinning. And not only that. Having heard about Jesus for many, many years, and now seeing Jesus for the first time, he did not go away from Jesus. He followed Jesus.

In the First Reading, God reveals Himself to us as Father. In the Responsorial Psalm, we are told about the joy we have in acclaiming God as our Father. And in the Reading from the Hebrews, we see the priesthood of Jesus and His being different from all other priesthoods. Jesus's priesthood is an eternal priesthood. He is the One who has entered into the Holy of Holies, and He is more for us what priesthood is all about. It's about faith; it's about joy, it's about service. And yes, even to the point of laying down one's life in order to help someone else. 

 

 

We know so many wonderful nurses and doctors who have risked their lives over the centuries, caring for people who had very serious, communicable diseases, taking care of the lepers. Here in our very own Philippines - the Martinian brothers, who care for lepers there in Tala, the lepers in Cebu, and the lepers in Tawi-Tawi. Why do they do it? It is because they are men of faith. They realize that God is their Father. They realize that Christ is the eternal High Priest, and they live out their service in joy. They have faith in Jesus.

You and I, right now, here at Greenbelt, at this celebration of the Eucharist - how strong is our faith? Whenever adversity comes, we may rebel against God. Or do we only accept God and have faith in God when everything is going very very well?

This morning, I said mass in Quezon City, at the Sisters of Charity. They care for the blind, and they have something like 30 young women. And all of these girls are blind since birth. Many of their families didn't want them because they were born blind. And as a consequence of that, they were abandoned. The Sisters have brought them together. They don't pray each and every day, that they may have the gift of human sight, although I am sure that they pray every now and then for this. But when you speak to them and ask them about their situation right now, they say "God has been good to us. He has brought us together. We live a life of joy, even though we cannot see." And you should see how they care for each other. They hold hands together, and they walk together. The older girls take care of the young girls. Young women of faith. They trust in God, even though they have not been given the gift of sight.

How about us? We see. Are our eyes avenues of goodness, or are they avenues of sin? We speak. But do our words bless, or do the words that come from us condemn and curse, or express anger? We have a wonderful gift to hear. Do we listen in silence to Jesus, or do we listen to all the gossip about others, and then join in, in destroying reputations of other people? What do we do with the gifts that God has given to us? Unless we are truly and sincerely, people who have faith in Jesus, people who not only hear the Gospel of Jesus but are sincerely trying to live the Gospel of Jesus, if we are doing this, then yes, we are men and women of faith.

My brothers and sisters, remember this. There is nothing magic about salvation. Jesus Himself has told us - we must work out our salvation. There will be moments of suffering. There will be moments of doubt. There will be moments when we feel we are rejected. That's when the gift of faith enables us to say yes to all the difficulties in life, and still, like the blind girls in Cubao, be people of joy, people of happiness, people who are faithful to Jesus.

We should renew our faith each day. Choose these simple few words: "Jesus, increase my faith in you." Every day, just those words. You'll be surprised how it will affect our daily lives, and how over a week and perhaps a month, and then even years, we will find that we are becoming more and more, people of faith in Jesus. Faith that enables us to recognize Jesus as the eternal High Priest. To recognize that Jesus is bringing us to His Father. And with this, we live our life in joy.

How can you and I - how can we - who believe in Jesus, not be faithful children? Like the blind man, we ask Jesus to take from us the blindness that comes from sin so that we can continue to follow Jesus.

Today we also celebrate the memorial of St. Simon and St. Jude the Apostles

Saint Simon and Saint Jude – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - St. Jude Thaddeus

                                             A Holy Life - St. Simon