Gospel Reflection

February 22, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

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

Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 1 Pt 5:1-4

Beloved: I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Gospel Mt 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

HOMILY

It was the Feast of the Ascension on May 9, 2005 when Pope Benedict XVI was installed as Bishop of Rome at the Basilica of St. John Lutheran. And when he took over the position and succeeded St. Peter as the next Roman Catholic Pope - the head of the universal church - he said that the Pope must always and constantly remind himself, and constantly repeat these words: "Dominus Iesus", which means "Jesus is Lord".

Today, we celebrate a rather interesting feast. We are not honoring a person or an event. We are celebrating a Chair. But of course, we are not celebrating just a piece of furniture. We are celebrating the authority and leadership of the Church. We actually celebrate today the founding of the leadership of the Catholic Church. The Church represents an office, and the Chair represents a position, a leader of the universal church. 

When Peter said to Jesus Christ, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God", and Jesus answered him, "Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my heavenly Father", He named him 'Cephas' or 'Petros', which means 'rock'. When Peter revealed the truth about Jesus as the living God, he was given the authority to the Church. And God is telling us that we must cooperate with Him in order that His graces may be handed down to us. 

In the First Reading, we also heard that those of you who have this authority must not lord it over your subjects. Hindi natin ipinapakita ang kapangyarihan natin sa pamamagitan ng ating lakas bilang isang hari o pinuno ng anumang grupo. Parents, in one way or another, are also responsible for their children. But they must not lord it over their children, and instead be good examples of the faith. 'Yon ang dapat makita natin at 'yon ang mas mahalaga. 

In the succeeding lines of the Gospel, when Jesus said, "Upon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it", Jesus means that the way leading to the netherworld shall not prevail against the victory of Jesus Christ, thus our Church will prevail against the gates of the netherworld. Tayo ay mananaig laban sa kadiliman, laban sa kasamaan. We shall be victorious, because it is the Church of Christ. And this, we must always profess. Like what we heard in our Responsorial Psalm, "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." There is no other God, but Christ. 

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, we actually honor Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Shepherd. Amen. 

Gospel Reflection

February 21, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Lenten Season

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

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

                         

Reading 1 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25

Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the LORD. She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you. Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O LORD, my God.

“And now, come to help me, an orphan. Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish. Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Gospel Mt 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; 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. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

HOMILY

I think a couple of years ago, one of the text messages that I got was a text message that encourages one to PUSH. Paki-ulit po. (with the people) PUSH. The text said that when we do not know what to do, just.....push. When we don't know where to go, just....push. When we don't know how to do it, just....push. When you don't know why you have to go there, just....push. And it says that PUSH is to Pray Until Something Happens. PUSH. Both the First Reading of today from the Book of Esther, and the Gospel Reading, tell us precisely to do just that. PUSH. 

Although Jesus very clearly says in the Gospel Reading, "Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will opened to you.", still, time and again, you and I feel that you have been asking and yet, you have not received what you have been asking for. You have been seeking and yet, you have not found what you have been seeking for. You have been knocking, and yet, the door remains closed. 

Of course, different people, based on their experience, based on their reflections, give different explanations. But what Jesus is telling us is that definitely, He hears all prayers, and He answers all prayers. But He did not say that the answer will always be 'yes'. The answer can also be 'no'. And it's still an answer. Of course, in the Gospel reading, He said very clearly, "Which one of you would hand his son a stone, if he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake, when he asks for fish?" If your son then asks you for a loaf of bread, definitely you will not give him a stone, unless toasted bread 'yan na naging matigas, parang stone na 'yon, 'no? (laughs) If your son asks for fish, you will not give him a snake. If you are that good, how much more God?

But the question is, sometimes, the son asks, not for bread, but for stone. Precisely sometimes, the daughter asks, not for fish, but for snake. Sometimes, we do not know what we really are asking for. Ultimately, in the long run, what we are asking for may not be good, will not be good for us, or for others, or for all. And that is why the answer sometimes is 'no'. But many times, we see that the answer is 'wait'. Wait. For you and I have our own timetable, but God has His own timetable. And His timetable is much better than yours and mine. 

In the Greek language, there are two words for time. Chronos and Kairos. Chronos in English means chronology. But Kairos means the fullness of time, at the right time. 

In the letter of St. Peter in the Holy Bible, he says that some people are complaining that God is late. But God is never late. God comes and reaches out to us in the fullness of time. He's always with us. But in response to many of our prayers, many times, He tells us to wait. Wait for the fullness of time. The Gospel Reading assures us that we can trust God. We can trust Jesus. We can trust Him. 

In one of the churches that I have visited many years ago, may nakasulat po na signage - "Please take good care of your bags, and your wallets, because some people may consider it as the answer to their prayers." (laughs) Kaya paki-ingat lang po sa inyong mga bag at wallet, kasi baka akalain ng iba, 'yan na ang sagot sa kanilang dasal. As one person complained to God, "Lord, matagal na akong nagdarasal manalo sa lotto ah." And in his dream, God appeared and said, "Eh paano ka mananalo sa lotto, eh hindi ka naman bumibili ng ticket."

The point is in the First Reading of today from the Book of Esther, Queen Esther prayed to the Lord to help her speak the right words, to have the courage to appear before the throne of the King of Persia, without being summoned, which, according to the law of Persia at that time, would mean automatic execution. Unless you are called by the king, you have no right to come into his presence. 

But Queen Esther could not wait to be called by her husband, the King of Persia - which is called Iran at present. Queen Esther was a Jew, an exile. She had to do something fast. She must PUSH, because the King was about to sign a decree that would harm her people, the Israelites. And so she prayed to God, not for God to bring magic. But she prayed to God to give her the courage, and the wisdom, and the eloquence before the King of Persia. 

My sisters and brothers, they say, "Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa." Let us pray. And when we pray, let us be sure that you and I are committed to be an instrument in bringing about the fulfillment of that prayer. That we do our part and we do our best, and help each other, and entrust to God the rest. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

February 20, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Lenten Season

by Rev. Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite, Society of St. Paul

6:00PM Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

                         

Reading 1 Jon 3:1-10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.  Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Gospel Lk 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.  At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

HOMILY

Sobra po akong nairita noong ini-report po sa akin ang komentaryo ng isang pinuno ng isang bagong relihiyon na inumpisahan sa Davao. Ito po ang kanyang comment sa nangyaring pag-resign ng ating Santo Papang Benedict XVI. Sabi niya, "O, ayan. Nagre-renounce na 'yong inyong Papa. Eh bakit na-andiyan pa kayo?"

Ito po ay nagpapamalas ng isang kababawan sa pag-unawa sa kadakilaang ginawa ng isang Santo Papang katulad ni Benedict XVI. Hindi po siya nagre-resign nang basta basta na lang. Nagre-resign siya sapagkat pagkatapos suriin ang kanyang sarili at suriin din ang situwasyon at ang demands ng ating simbahan ngayon, nagdesisyon siya na if his role is to govern, sanctify and teach the people of God, ngayon, dahil sa kanyang katandaan at dahil sa kanyang kahinaan, ay hindi na niya kayang gampanan ang ganoon, ang kanyang pinangakong gampanan. 

And so, katulad ng isang German na Benedict XVI, he must have told himself, "This is not just a question of reigning." Andiyan ka, nasa tuktok ka ng kapangyarihan, hawak mo na lahat. But it is a question of effectively governing. Iba 'yon.

Samantalang 'yong iba, basta nandiyan ka sa tuktok, wala kang kahihiyan, kahit wala kang karapatan, hindi talaga matanggal ang iyong pagkakahawak - ano'ng tawag do'n - kapit tuko, this message is a resounding message to say, "Hoy, hindi gano'n." You are there to effectively govern. And if you cannot handle that anymore, let it go. And let someone else who can do the job better, do it for you. 

For which reason, we have to salute the Pope. Sapagkat sa isang taong binigyan ng kapangyarihan, hawak na niya, he is willing to let go, and to simply fade into the picture, so that someone else can do the job more effectively, than he can now.

Si Jonas ay isang propheta. And I will tell you of four signs of a true prophet. Apat - bibigyan ko kayo, para pag nalaman n'yo sasabihin ninyo, "Ah, ito siguro ay talagang magaling na pinuno, lider ng relihiyon ito, tunay na religious leader."

Number one. Ang tunay na propheta ng Diyos, unang una ay alam niyang wala siyang karapatan. Hindi siya ang pinakamagaling. At kung pinili siya ay sapagkat siya lamang ay pinagti-tiyagaan ng Panginoon. 

Ang amin pong founder (referring to Blessed Giacomo Alberione, founder of the Society of St. Paul), isang dakilang tao at isang blessed na rin ng simbahan, when he was asked, "Write about yourself." Pagkatapos mong gawin ang lahat ng ito, ano'ng masasabi mo sa sarili mo? Ano'ng sinabi niya? "I was just a brush in the hand of the Great Painter. I was just a pen in the hand of the Great Writer." Hindi ako - instrumento lang ako. Ginamit ako ng Panginoon. At alam kong wala akong karapatan. I am unworthy. At kung si Lord ay nakahanap ng mas unworthy pa kaysa sa akin, 'yon ang pinili Niya."

And so a true prophet does not feel good about himself. Alam niyang wala siyang karapatan. Hindi siya 'yong namamayagpag, hindi niya bini-build up ang sarili niya. Hindi katulad ng iba - napakarami na sa kasaysayan ng simbahan ang ganoon - na ang feeling nila na kung wala sila, matutumba ang simbahan. Ito po ang masasabi ko sa inyo. Bago kayo, nandiyan na po ang simbahan. At pag-alis n'yo, nandiyan pa rin ang simbahan. In short, all of us are not indispensable, in the salvation of people. Only God is indispensable.

Kaya mga kapatid, dito po kami natutuwa kay Cardinal Chito Tagle. Maraming nagsasabi na, "Wow, 'yan na ngayon ang posibleng maging Santo Papa." Obvious na pet siya ni Benedict XVI. Pero pag tinanong mo ngayon si Cardinal, katulad ng kinukuwento ngayon ni Monsignor Bong Lo, sabi niya, kahapon ay binulungan niya si Cardinal. "Cardinal, eh meron pong French na pari dito na sinabing kausapin ko na daw po kayo ngayon, kasi baka pag-alis mo, eh hindi ka na makakabalik na hindi ka Santo Papa." Ang sagot ni Cardinal, "Sabihin mo sa paring French na kung ganyan ang mga salita niya, demonyo ang nagsasabi sa kanya." (laughs)

Mas maganda itong si Mrs. Salvador na presidente ng Sandigan, isang religious group. Pagkatapos ma-announce na magre-resign si Benedict XVI, pumunta siya kaagad kay Cardinal Chito Tagle. Sabi niya, "Your Eminence, talagang nagkaroon ako ng vision. Nakita kong nakadamit ka nang Santo Papa. Talagang ikaw ang magiging bagong Santo Papa." Ang sagot ni Cardinal Tagle, "Mrs. Salvador, hindi ho vision 'yon. Nightmare 'yon." (laughs) Ang ibig sabihin ni Cardinal ay wala siyang karapatan diyan. And many times, these are the people that the Lord will choose because they recognize, wala silang karapatan. It's God who chooses whom He wants. 

Second, alam ng isang tunay na propheta na kapag sila'y pinili, ang success ng kanilang ginagampanan ay hindi pa rin nakadepende sa kanila. In fact, ito ay nakadepende pa rin sa biyaya ng Panginoon na sa kanila ay ibinibigay. Alam nila na sila ay props lang. Na ang tunay na bida sa eksena ay ang Panginoon. In fact, they also understand that their business is not to be successful. They know that. Their business is to be faithful. Hindi mahalaga ang sasabihin ng iba. Ang mahalaga ay tapat siya sa Panginoon, bilang isang alagad.

And this brings us to the third sign of a true prophet. And what is that? A true prophet suffers. Why? Because you are there to make a difference in the lives of people. You are like a light introduced into darkness. And those in there who are doing things in the darkness, will not want to bring in the light. Ang reaksiyon nila sa ilaw - hipan ito. Patayin n'yo. Why? Because they do not want to see the ugliness of what they are doing. 

A true prophet is salt of the earth, because he is supposed to make the difference. And others will tell you, the one who brings in the truth to a world of lies, will not be popular at all. They will persecute you. And like your master, they may even crucify you. That is why a beautiful sign of a true prophet is when he suffers. Alam n'yo mga kapatid, sabi nga nila, when a prophet is making it so good, that he has everything and enjoys it, magduda na kayo kung 'yan ay tunay na propheta. The true prophet is one who suffers because he stands for the truth, so that we can receive the light in a dark world.

The fourth sign is this. A true prophet does not seek the pleasure of men, or to please man. His one joy is that he pleases God. Kaya paulit-ulit ko pong sinasabi ito. Sabi ni Bishop Bacani sa aming mga pari, we are supposed to be mouthpieces of God. "Sana pagpunta n'yo at kayo'y biglang napalakpakan ng mga taong kausap n'yo, pag-uwi n'yo, kausapin n'yo si Lord. Lord, kanina pumapalakpak sila. Pumapalakpak Ka rin ba?" Sapagkat ang pinagsisilbihan mo'y Diyos, at hindi lamang upang ika'y makakuha ng papuri ng mga tao. At kung ganoon ang inaasahan mo, sasagutin ka ni Kristo. "You have been repaid. Bayad ka na, sapagkat wala ka nang makukuhang pagpapala."

My dear friends, my brothers and sisters, we are anticipating the coming of a new Pope. But we are truly, truly joyful that Pope Benedict XVI makes one final act to tell the world that one's position is not important. Ang mahalaga ay kung nagagampanan mo ito nang tama. Eh German 'yan. They are very functional. And if they could not function anymore, it's so easy for them to let go of the position. Although kinukwento ko nga na noong marinig kong si Benedict XVI ay magre-resign na, kinabahan ako. Sabi ko, "Lord, please. Huwag muna. Hindi pa ako handa." (laughs) 

Alam n'yo po ang Santo Papa, kapag 'yan ay napili na ng kanyang mga kapatid na cardinal, alam n'yo, three-fourths vote 'yon ha. Hindi basta-basta 50 plus 1, hindi. Three-fourths ang dapat abutin mo. It is a convincing declaration to say na ikaw na ang kanilang napusuan. 

At hindi ho madali 'yon. Kasi po paisa-isa lalapit sila sa isang napakalaking chalice na kung saan ay may nakalagay sa itaas na silver plate na ang tawag nila ay paten, at lahat sila ay itataas ang boto nila. "Sa harapan ng aking Diyos, at ayon sa aking tunay na paniniwala, ito po ang dapat maging bagong Santo Papa." Hindi na po babanggitin ang pangalan, secret balloting 'yon. Pagkatapos ay ilalagay niya po 'yon sa itaas ng paten at ihuhulog niya 'yon doon sa chalice. 

Bibilangin po paisa-isa 'yon. At kapag napili ka, at three-fourths ang botong iyong nakuha, hindi ka automatic na ibe-bless bilang Santo Papa. Tatanungin ka muna, "Tinatanggap mo ba?" At kung na-shock ka at nabigla, pagbibigyan ka naman ng mga cardinal. "O sige, pumasok ka muna do'n sa 'crying room'." Meron talaga noon. (laughs) Napasok ko na 'yon. Do'n pwede kang magwala, "Lord, bakit ako?" (laughs) Bahala ka kung ano'ng gagawin mo roon. (laughs)

Tapos paglabas mo, ayun, kakausapin ka uli ng 'camerlengo' o ng chamberlian na siyang IC or in-charge ng mga cardinal. Ang mga cardinal na 80 and above po ay hindi na po pwedeng pumasok doon. Kaya sa atin dito sa Pilipinas, iisa lang po ang ating Cardinal na pwedeng pumasok doon, si Cardinal Tagle lang, dahil po ang ating si Cardinal Vidal at Cardinal Rosales ay hindi na eligible at hindi na rin makakaboto.

Kapag tinanong ka kung tinatanggap mo, at sinabi mong "Tinatanggap ko na", pagkatapos noon ay tatanungin ka kung ano ang pangalan na kukunin mo. Kung ako talaga ang mapili ninyo (laughs), may pangalan na 'ko. Marius the First. (more laughs)

Pagkatapos noon, ang gagawin mo ay tatanggalin mo ang iyong skullcap na pula. Ipapatong mo ito sa ulo ng cardinal na kaharap mo, at lalagyan ka ng panibagong skullcap. This time, puti na. At ang lahat ng mga cardinal, paisa-isa, lalapit sa iyo at hahalikan ang singsing mo, para sabihing tunay na ikaw na ang bagong Pedro. Gano'n po 'yon.

Pagkatapos 'yong mga boto nila, tutuhugin 'yon paisa-isa. Tapos ilalagay 'yon sa sunugan. Dati, nilalagyan nila 'yon ng dayaming basa. Ang ibig sabihin hindi pa naboboto ang bagong Santo Papa. Pero kapag may napili na, lalagyan 'yon ng dayaming tuyo para puti na ang usok na lumabas. Pero ngayon, nagkakaiba na ng kulay, kaya nilalagyan na ng chemical, para siguradong puti ang usok na lumabas. At ang ibig sabihin ay mayroon nang bagong Papa.

Pagkatapos, bibihisan ka na. At pagkatapos ay lalabas ka. At ang 'camerlengo' o chamberlain ay mag-a-announce na. "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!" I bring you good news. We have a new Pope. Meron na tayong bagong Papa. Tapos ay sasabihin ang pangalan ng Santo Papa. Tapos lalabas ka, at kakaway ka sa mga tao. Kaya tatlong araw na ako nagpapa-praktis (laughs)....just in case....

Isa lang ang alam ko. May topak ang magnanais maging Santo Papa. (laughs) Mga kapatid, ipagdasal natin si Cardinal Tagle. Ako, hindi ko lang alam, but I have a gut feeling. He may become the next Pope. Ipagdasal natin. We pray that whoever is chosen may truly have the heart of a shepherd, with the love of God in His heart, and love for his people. Amen.