Gospel Reflection

December 10, 2012

Monday – Advent – Year of Faith

Memorial of St. Gregory III

by Msgr. Bong Lo (Chaplain, Chapel of Eucharistic Lord)

12:15 PM Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Is 35:1-10

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water; The abode where jackals lurk will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus. A highway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it. No lion will be there, nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it. It is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14

R. (Isaiah 35:4f) Our God will come to save us!
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD --for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Our God will come to save us!
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Our God will come to save us!
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Our God will come to save us!

Gospel Lk 5:17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven."

Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, "What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins?" he said to the one who was paralyzed, "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."

He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, "We have seen incredible things today."

HOMILY

I would think that most of you are married. Most of you ay may mga asawa, ano po? Do you consider your spouse a partner, or a competitor? I am sure you consider your spouse your partner. But the question is - is your spouse a partner in crime, or, according to the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, are you partners in the Gospel? What does it mean to be partners in the Gospel? 

In our First Reading of today, from the book of the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah prophesied the return of those exiled, the return to the land of promise. It was also mentioned that the people will walk through the holy highway, the holy road, the holy avenue. A highway called the holy way. Yes, God will prepare a way. Yes, God will make a way. But we have to do our part, we have to do our share, we have to do our best to be partners with God, to be partners in the Gospel.

If you noticed, during the time of Blessed John Paul II, on several occasions when he canonized saints, he did it, not only in honor of one particular saint, but the particular saint with companions. San Lorenzo Ruiz and companion martyrs. Bakit po laging may 'and companions and partners'? Kasi po, not only because they died supposedly together, or not because the Vatican wanted to economize and save on expenses kaya sabay-sabay ang canonization, but because Blessed John Paul II rightly believed that if you go to heaven, you bring with you those you have inspired, those who you have guided, those who you have loved. And if I go to hell, I won't go alone. (laughs) I'll bring you also with me. (more laughs)

Whether we like it or not, no man is an island. We affect each other, for better or for worse. We are committed to help each other become holy. To help each other walk the holy highway, to be partners, not in crime, but to be partners in the Gospel. To pray for each other and pray together. To support each other and forgive one another.

Sa Gospel Reading po, narinig natin kanina that four friends brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. At dahil hindi sila makapasok sa pintuan dahil napakaraming tao, the four friends found a way and brought their sick friend at the rooftop. At sinira pa nila ang bubong - grabe ano. Para lang maibaba ang paralyzed friend nila sa harap ni Jesus. Please take note and pay attention to the detail. According to the Gospel Reading, when Jesus saw their faith - not His faith - nang makita Niya ang kanilang pananampalataya, it was not the faith of the paralyzed man, but the faith of his friends that touched Jesus, that facilitated the healing, both of mind and body. The forgiveness of sins and the curing of the man's paralysis.

Talaga naman po, for better or for worse, we affect each other. The faith of the friends facilitated healing. My sisters and brothers, we pray for our families, we pray for our friends. Sino kaya ang mga taong nagdala sa inyo sa Panginoon? Sino kaya naman ang mga taong nadala ninyo at napalapit sa Panginoon? Sino naman ang mga taong nagpalayo sa inyo sa Panginoon? Sino kaya naman ang mga taong nilayo ninyo sa Panginoon? 

Saint Gregory III – Pray for us

Gospel Reflection

December 09, 2012

Second Sunday of Advent – Year of Faith

by Rev. Fr. Benjo Fajota (Vice Rector of the EDSA Shrine)

11:00 AM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

Reading 1 Bar 5:1-9

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship.

Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God's command; for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.

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 who 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 Phil 1:4-6, 8-11

Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Lk 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

HOMILY

A young, newly ordained priest was assigned in a parish where he had an elderly priest. One day, when he started his ministry, he asked his parish priest. "What do I preach about?" And the parish priest answered him, "Preach about 10 minutes." The elder priest explained that the young priest should make his homilies short, for people get easily bored. Totoo po ba 'yon? Gawin daw maiksi, mabilis ang misa, dahil madali daw ma-bore ang mga tao? 

So that was what the assistant parish priest did. But after a few months, one time, one of the choirs of the parish gave a concert. After three hours, the people were shouting for more. The assistant parish priest could not understand why people would be listening up to three hours for a good concert, but for the word of God, 10 or 15 minutes would be so boring, would be so long. Bakit kaya ganoon?

Let us look at the first line of the Gospel of St. Luke. It is said that 'the Word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert'. Sasabihin natin, "Eh panahon pa nila 'yon eh, na dumating ang Salita ng Diyos. So ano ang kahulugan nito sa ating buhay ngayon? Eh hindi naman ngayon dumating, noon dumating."

St. John the Baptist was a very fearful man because it also says in the Gospel that he proclaimed a baptism of repentance. Ano ang sinabi niya? "Magsisi kayo sa inyong mga kasalanan. Patagin ninyo ang mga baku-bakong landas ng inyong buhay at magbalik-loob sa Diyos. Talikuran ang buhay kadiliman." Does it have any meaning at all at our present time, in our lives? Meron bang dating? Sasabihin natin "Eh lagi naman nating naririnig ang Salita ng Diyos pero bakit walang dating?"

Kung minsan sasabihin natin - ano nga ba ang katuturan o kahulugan ng pagiging isang Katolikong Kristiyano? We hear the Word of God but the question that we must ask is this. May kapangyarihan ba ang Salita ng Diyos na baguhin ang ating puso, ang ating pag-iisip at ang ating buhay, ang ating pakikitungo sa ating kapwa tao? O naririnig ko lang dahil kung minsan magandang pakinggan, pero balewala, hindi ito magkakaroon ng epekto sa aking buhay?

A lot us claim that we are Catholics, but do we adhere to, or listen to the teachings of the priests and bishops? 'Wala na 'yan, Father. Sinauna na 'yang mga itinuturo ninyo. Hindi na uso. Hindi na napapanahon.'

But the Word of God remains the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And not because a lot of people are doing a certain thing, makes a thing right. Not because a lot of people are already pro-RH makes this bill right. Eto na naman si Father, pag-uusapan na naman ang isang bagay na wala silang alam, na wala silang karapatan. When it pertains to our moral life, meron kaming katungkulan at karapatan na ipahayag ang katotohanan. Hindi kami nagsasalita nang sa amin lang. Kamukha ni Hesus, pag Siya ay nagtuturo, sasabihin Niya, "Itong mga salitang ito ay hindi nanggagaling sa Akin, kundi sa Aking Amang nasa langit." Kami rin, kapag kami ay nagtuturo, ibinabase namin ito sa Salita ng Diyos na nanggaling sa Diyos Ama sa langit. Hindi ganang aming sarili lang. Hindi kami nagmamagaling, hindi kami nagmamarunong. Ibinibahagi lang namin ang aming katungkulang ipahayag ang katotohanan.

And what is the truth? Sabi dito "forgiveness of sins". Lahat tayo ay makasalanan. Pero lahat ba tayo ay nagsisisi sa ating kasalanan? Or a lot of us are already insensitive to sin, kaya hindi na tayo tinatamaan ng Salita ng Diyos? 

Ipinapahayag ngayon ang kagalakan, dahil ang Salita ng Diyos ay dumarating sa atin. The Word of God came to John. Tatlong bagay. First, John went to the desert. Second, the Word of God came upon him. And third, John left the desert and proclaimed the Good News.

Ngayon, pumunta tayo sa desyerto ng ating mga puso. At kapag sinabing desyerto ng ating mga puso, ang makikita lamang natin doon ay ang ating sarili. Walang ibang tao. Walang magsasabi na ikaw ay nagkakamali o gumagawa ng kasalanan. Ang tanging makapagsasabi sa iyo niyan ay ang Salita ng Diyos. In the silence of your heart, the Word of God will speak. Binibigyang daan ba natin ang ating Panginoon na mangusap, na magsalita sa atin? Dapat tayo ay tumatahimik. We should go to a desert, a certain place where we could be alone with God, and to let Him speak to us in the recesses of our hearts. Sa kaibuturan ng iyong puso, dapat marinig mo ang tinig ng Diyos.

Kaming mga pari ay nabibigyan ng katungkulang ipahayag o ipaliwanag ang Salita ng Diyos, kahit na kayo ay masaktan, kahit na kayo ay magalit. Dahil kailangan naming gampanan ang aming katungkulan. Papaano natin ito tatanggapin sa ating buhay kung hindi natin kilala ang Diyos? Paano natin malalaman o mauunawaan kung ano ang kagalakan, kung wala naman tayong sariling pakikipag-ugnayan sa Diyos? It is like me telling you about love, and you have not experienced love, so you will not understand what it is. It is like reading to you poetry when you don't even know what poetry is. So, pag sinasabi ko sa inyong magalak kayo sa Salita ng Diyos, parang walang dating, dahil hindi natin nararanasang madama ang kagalakan ng pakikipag-ugnayan sa Diyos. God wants us to be with Him. Lagi niya tayong inaanyayahang magbalik loob sa Kanya. Tingnan natin kung paano natin ito mai-a-apply sa ating buhay.

Ngayon, sinasabing paghandaan natin ang pagdating ng Diyos. But how do we prepare for the coming of the Messiah, the One who will save us from our sins? Shopping dito, shopping doon. Kahapon nabasa ko po sa diyaryo - five things people want to receive for Christmas. Number one, gadgets. We want a new cellphone, a new iPhone, iPad, cameras, laptops. 76% of the people who were surveyed want these for Christmas. Second, clothes and shoes. Then books, travel abroad, jewelry, money. Ito ba ang gusto natin ngayong Pasko? Ito ba ang ginagawa nating paghahanda?

I might disturb you, I might offend you, but that is the purpose of the Gospel. It is like a two-edged sword. To give comfort to those who are disturbed, and to disturb those who are comfortable. We might be very complacent in our lives, masarap ang buhay natin, matiwasay, walang gaanong problema, ok lang gawin ang kahit ano. Pero ito ba ay talagang naayon sa diwa at aral ng Ebanghelyo? Ang Salita ng Diyos ba ay kumikilos sa atin, o marinig man natin ito, paglabas naman natin ng simbahan ay ganoon din ang ating ginagawa - no room for forgiveness to our enemies, no room for sharing to the underprivileged, no room for giving to the poor. Ang lahat ay ginagawa natin para lamang sa ating sarili, para lamang sa ating kapakanan.

Tignan natin kung ano ang tunay na hinahanap ng tao - what will give us joy, rather than happiness. Ano po ba ang pagkakaiba? Happiness is something that is measured or founded on external things. You have good health, a good job, a good family, a lot money. But joy is only measured and founded on one thing - the presence of God. Lahat tayo ay nagugutom. Lahat tayo ay naghahangad sa ating mga ambisyon. Pero isa lang ang tunay nating hinahanap sa buhay, at ito ang presensiya ng Diyos.

Let me share with you this story, which happened after World War II. There was bombing in the city of London, and some soldiers were assigned to keep track and to man the city. It was a very early morning of December 25. Hindi po malalaman na Pasko na pala noong araw na 'yon. Puro usok, walang taong nasa labas, walang taong nagsasaya. And these soldiers happened to pass by an orphanage. And they decided to enter the orphanage. Pagpasok ng mga sundalo, nakita nilang bagong gising ang mga bata, children who lost their parents during the bombings of World War II. And so the soldiers decided to give small presents to these children. They got everything they could get out of their pockets - key chains, ballpens, candies, just to make the spirit of Christmas alive.

Pero mayroong isang batang lalaki ang hindi kumikilos, tahimik na nandoon sa kanyang pwesto. Nilapitan siya ng isang sundalo. And the soldier asked him, "You little boy, what do you want?" And the little boy answered, "I want a hug." (pause) Niyakap ng sundalo ang bata, habang siya ay lumuluha, and he felt the spirit of Christmas.

Hinahanap natin ang mga materyal na bagay, mga bagay na akala natin ay magpapasaya at magpapaligaya sa ating mga minamahal. Ngunit ang tunay na kaligayahan o kagalakan na kanilang hinahanap ay ang ating presensiya. Ang presensiya na maibahagi si Kristo sa kanila.

In the third year of the Presidency of Ninoy Aquino, Jr., when Benjamin Abalos, Jr. was the mayor of Mandaluyong, when Franklin Santos was the Chairman of the MMDA, when Pope Benedict XVI was head of the Catholic Church, when Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was the head of the Archdiocese, the Word of God came to you, to me. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

December 08, 2012

Saturday – Advent – Year of Faith

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by  Rev. Fr. Rufino Jun Sescon (Chaplain, Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel)

10:00 AM Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

Reading 1 Gn 3:9-15, 20

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself." Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!" The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with me-- she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it." The LORD God then asked the woman, "Why did you do such a thing?" The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it."

Then the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel."

The man called his wife Eve,because she became the mother of all the living.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

R. (1) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Reading 2 Eph 1:3-6, 11-12

Brothers and sisters: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

Gospel Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

HOMILY

Once again, good morning po sa inyong lahat.

We have different reactions when it comes to the coming of a baby. In Rome, there is a joke. The place of the Holy Father is called San Damaso, the apostolic palace, and if you will be given a chance to have a private audience with the Father, they say that you go by the San Damaso gate. There is a joke that one day, they found a baby at the doorsteps of San Damaso and that was big news. So there was a serious meeting by the Pope, cardinals and bishops to determine where did the baby come from. And the cardinals and bishops said that it is impossible that the baby must have come from the Papal apartments, because there are no couples in the apartments. But then, as I said it is a joke.

Yes, we have different reactions. Just a few days ago, the whole world was in a frenzy over the news that William and Kate will now have a child. There were even interviews with the Prime Ministers of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other big shots, wishing the royal couple well for their new child. And they say that the bookies started betting first if Kate was pregnant or not. And now that it is confirmed, they are betting whether it will be a boy or a girl. And once it is determined, the next bet would be, what would be the name of the baby.

But I was just wondering. Yes, the whole world is excited. But then, what an irony. If, in the news, the Duchess is pregnant and everybody is excited and happy, in our country, the mood is different. If in that part of the world, they are waiting for the coming of a baby, here, our legislators hope that there will be not too much babies around. They believe that we will be a happier nation if there are less babies, less pregnancies. Talk about discrimination or selective preference. When it comes to royalty or celebrities, we welcome the news of pregnancy. We anticipate birth. But when it comes to the poor, the little ones of society, we hope their tribe will not increase anymore. How ironic. Sa bansa natin, pag mahirap ka, sorry ka na lang. Kung pwede lang na huwag ka nang mag-anak, mas maganda. It is sad because it shows also where our values are going.

Population control pre-occupies the minds of our public servants, who, at this point, should instead be minding the suffering of our brethren in Mindanao. Yesterday, I was listening to the news. One radio commentator said that as an act of solidarity, our distinguished members of the House of Representatives decided to donate Php5,000 each to the victims of typhoon Pablo. And the commentator said, baka nakakahiya naman o mabigat sa kanilang bulsa na magbigay ng Php5,000 para sa ating mga nasalantang kababayan. Baka ipusta pa nila 'yon kay Pacquiao. By the way, beginning today, Greenbelt Chapel will accept donations for Pablo victims also.

And so it is fitting that today, the Church remembers the gift of life. The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Yes, the Immaculate Conception - when Mary was conceived in the womb of St. Anne, sinless, free from the stain of original sin.

If you ask me, "Father, when did the Immaculate Conception take place? At the moment of fertilization or implantation?" Please do not ask me that. That question is only asked in Congress.

It is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. At that moment, Mary was there in the womb. At that moment, that being, human being was formed inside the body of a person. Life begins.

Kaya nakakalungkot na hanggang ngayon kasama 'yan sa debate. Implantation or fertilization? Siguro sasabihin sa atin ni Mama Mary, you are making life too complicated.

Today, my brothers and sisters, I invite you to reflect on the word the 'Immaculate Conception'. Mary is the Immaculate Conception. I believe that this is the favorite name of Mary. For us, the Immaculate Conception is like a description of Mary. She was conceived without original sin. But I believe Mary used that as her name. You see in Lourdes, when the Lady appeared to St. Bernadette, she went to the parish priest. The parish priest was skeptical. (We priests are trained to be cynics and skeptics.) And so the priest said, "I don't believe. But just in case that Lady appears to you again, ask her, 'What is your name?'." After a few days, the Lady appeared again to Bernadette at the grotto and Bernadette asked her, "What is your name?" And the Lady in white said, "I am the Immaculate Conception". If you will be given the grace to go to Lourdes, you will see there inscribed in the grotto: "I am the Immaculate Conception." That is the only time Mary gave her name - the Immaculate Conception.

 

And I was asking myself, why did Mary say that? That is not her proper name. Up to last night, I was reflecting in prayer, why did our Blessed Mother not say, "I am Mary"? In Hebrew, Mary is Miriam. Why did our Lady not say, "I am Miriam"? I have a guess, why she did not say "I am Miriam". Perhaps she would know later on what Miriam would point to, ano? (laughs)

But seriously, why again the Immaculate Conception? Perhaps (I would say this is dogmatic), if ever she says "I am Mary", it simply says, "I am the fruit of Joachim and Anne. I am the daughter of my parents". But when she said, "I am the Immaculate Conception", our Lady says, "I am the fruit of God. I am a child, a daughter of the Father". Why? Because she can only be immaculately conceived by the power of God. She did not work for it, she did not earn it, she did not deserve it. It was sheer grace. Yes, the Immaculate Conception took place because of the power of God.

Some of us Catholics say that as the Lady of the Immaculate Conception, she is even like God. No. When we say she is the Immaculate Conception, we are saying, she is as such, because of God. We still magnify the power of God. The Immaculate Conception is simply not magnifying Mary. The Immaculate Conception still points to God, because it is a grace of God. No wonder, later on, when Mary grew up, in the Gospel we heard, when the Angel greeted her, what was the greeting of the Angel? And we pray that every time we call on Mary. We say, 'Hail Mary', ano po ang kasunod? Full of grace. Yes, Mary is the Immaculate Conception because she is full of grace. Full of God, like a cup overflowing with wine. No wonder she is the Immaculate Conception. She is full of God, that there is no room for sin in her life, even at the moment of her conception, until death.

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, when Mary says, "I am the Immaculate Conception", she is also, as we say, "I am full of grace. I am full of God's love and favor. I belong to God." Yes, when she says that, she is not boasting of herself. She is not making a personal acclamation. But rather, she is exalting the power and goodness of God. She is proclaiming the greatness of the Lord. Today, brothers and sisters, I also invite you to reflect on those words - 'full of grace'.

Perhaps the Immaculate Conception is difficult to fathom. That is why when Bernadette went back to the priest and told him, "That Lady, she said she is the Immaculate Conception", the priest trembled. The priest grew pale. Why? Because that phrase was still very new. Just four years before that, the Pope defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. And please remember that there was still no Internet at that time. It was impossible for Bernadette to know those words, Immaculate Conception. And Bernadette was even illiterate. And the priest himself was still trying to understand what the Immaculate Conception is, because it was a very new term in the Church. That is why when the priest heard 'Immaculate Conception', he believed it was the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because it is pointing to the fullness of God's grace.

Today, as we look at the Blessed Mother, remember the words 'full of grace'. And let us ask ourselves. Right now, as you are here in this chapel, what are you full of? Now as we speak, what is your mind full of right now? Ano ang pumupuno sa isip ninyo ngayon? Ano ang pumupuno sa puso ninyo ngayon? Ano'ng pumupuno sa tahanan natin ngayon? What is your life full of, right now?

Baka naman 'yong bahay n'yo, punung-puno nga ng appliances, pero walang wala namang pag-ibig. Baka naman punung-puno na ng katahimikan kasi hindi na nag-uusap 'yong mga tao sa bahay. Baka 'yong isip ninyo ngayon, punung-puno ng pagkaka-abalahan. 'Ay Pasko na naman, ano kaya ang mga bibilhin ko, ano kaya ang mga ireregalo ko? Ano kaya ang matatanggap ko?" O ang puso natin, baka punong-puno ng galit, magpa-Pasko na. Baka punong-puno ng inggit. Punong-puno ng kawalan ng pagpapatawad.

Today, as we look at Mary, we pray, "Lord, kung mapupuno man ang puso ko, kung mapupuno man ang isip ko, kung mapupuno man ang tahanan ko, kung mapupuno man ang pamilya ko, mapuno nawa ito ng biyaya ng Diyos." We may not be able to imitate the Immaculate Conception, but me may still be filled with grace.

And so as we continue with this mass, we ask the intercession of our Blessed Mother. Blessed Mary, the Immaculate Conception, full of grace, we come at your feet. We are your children. Open our hearts so that we may be ready for your grace. Allow us to own your prayer. Your favorite prayer. "Let it be done to me according to Your will." Yes, Blessed Mother, that is your secret. By being open to the will of God, you are filled with grace. Today, Blessed Mother, open our hearts so that we, too, may be full of grace. Amen.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception – Pray for us

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - The Immaculate Conception