Gospel Reflection

March 15, 2013

Friday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

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

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

                         

Reading 1 Wis 2:1a, 12-22

The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts;  merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23

R. (19a) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Gospel Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

HOMILY

Those people who do well or good, or who strive to do right, are hated by the general populous. A lot of people do not like those who are different in what they do, because it makes them so obvious in their mistakes and wrongdoings. Thus, a lot of people are persecuted because they try to live a righteous life.

No wonder, the Church is being attacked left and right, by a world that accepts abortion, that encourages pornography, and that destroys marriage and the family. It is because the Church holds the moral values handed down by our forefathers. Thank God we have a new Pope who is willing to make use of these moral values. 

The Lord is reminding us of these attacks left and right. The First Reading reminds us how we will be attacked, and the Gospel tells us that Jesus Himself acknowledges these people who will attack us. Let us pray, therefore, that we may given the strength to face them, and the courage to sustain our faith, in spite of what we see and receive.

My brothers and sisters, Lent is the best time to purify our intentions. Are we willing to do things for the Lord, or are we just satisfying the people around us?

Gospel Reflection

March 14, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

by Rev. Fr. Leonardo Adaptar, CS, Scalabrini Missionary
12:15pm mass, Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (EDSA Shrine)
                         

Reading 1 Ex 32:7-14

The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ The LORD said to Moses, “I see how stiff-necked this people is. Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.”

But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent he brought them out, that he might kill them in the mountains and exterminate them from the face of the earth’? Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’“ So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.

Responsorial Psalm PS 106:19-20, 21-22, 23

R. (4a) Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Gospel Jn 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

HOMILY

I would like to begin this reflection with a question. What would you feel if you have worked hard and due credit was not given to you? What if you were not acknowledged that you were the one who did it? Human as we are, certainly, we would feel bad. We would be disappointed, hurt, and there is always a tendency to claim what is due for us.
In this reflection that I would like to share with you, there are two points that I would like to highlight.
First, I would like to reiterate that God is loving and merciful. We started this week, last Sunday, with a very beautiful reflection about the parable of the prodigal son, which can also be understood as the parable of the compassionate Father. God manifested to us in the parable His compassion and unconditional love for each one of us.
This is being repeated once again in the Book of Exodus in the experience of the Israelites. After God saved them and brought them out from slavery in Egypt, the people turned to a molten calf and worshipped it, without really thinking that it is our God, the God of Moses, who brought them out of slavery. Di po ba masakit 'yon sa ating Panginoon, that He did everything for His people, and then after that, they will give credit to another god that they are worshiping? If we are going to put our human standards into God's own, certainly, we will feel bad.
But God continues to remain merciful and compassionate, even if He was disappointed. In fact, He initiated reconciliation with His people when He called Moses and said, "Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt." When Moses pleaded to the Lord not to let His wrath blaze upon His people, God listened. It does not mean that Moses was more merciful and God is not. But this is simply to tell us that God, in His kindness, initiates reconciliation with us. God loves each one of us. We may be entangled with so many mistakes, but God will always allow His grace to be with us. He will look for us, He will search for us.
The second point is this. I am so struck with the humility and obedience of Moses. He is really a good leader. He is not a person who would give credit to himself at the expense of others. Hindi siya sipsip sa Panginoon. Being a leader, when he saw that his people were worshipping other gods, he did not ignite the anger of God by putting more fuel to it. Instead, he pleaded to the Lord, asking for mercy on behalf of the Israelites. He is also kind and merciful, and also possessed the heart of God. And I think that this is what we need - to have the heart of God for others.
This morning, our own Church is so happy to have received the good news of having a new Pope. He is someone who was not so much talked about, but we are surprised of having this first South American Pope, a person who also has the qualities of a good leader, a good reformer. Let us continue to pray for him, as he embraces this challenging task that the Lord has given to him for the whole Church. May he remain a compassionate father, not only for the 1.2 billion Catholics, but for the whole world. May he have the heart of God, who is loving, forgiving and compassionate. My dear brothers and sisters, let us be one with the whole Church in praying for this intention. Let us pray for ourselves, too, that we may also possess the heart of God. Amen.

HABEMUS PAPAM!

POPE FRANCIS I

Jorge Mario Bergoglio

HABEMUS PAPAM!!!

Gospel Reflection

March 13, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

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

12;15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Is 49:8-15

Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, Saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves! Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be. They shall not hunger or thirst, nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them; For he who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water. I will cut a road through all my mountains, and make my highways level. See, some shall come from afar, others from the north and the west, and some from the land of Syene. Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. For the LORD comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted.

But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Gospel Jn 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews:  “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.

“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”

HOMILY

This world has become an impatient world. We are very impatient that we want everything in an instant. We hate waiting. True? Yes.

But there is a time...in God's time. And God Himself has said it in the First Reading. I answered you when you asked for a favor. But it was not according to man's time, but according to God's time. 

We are so impatient when we ask favors from the Lord. And it is always shown in how we live our life here on earth. Jesus has promised that He is busy at work, just like His Father is busy at work. Jesus is doing the work of the Father now, but it is not in the time of man, but the time of the Father.

We must realize the importance of patient contemplation and prayerful waiting. It is because the world has gotten so fast-paced that we do not know how to wait anymore. This is an important element in our spiritual life - being quiet, serene, and in prayer. Until we realize this, we will always be in a hurry, and we will never be contented in life. 

What we must ask ourselves now is: In my union with the Lord, am I patient in His answer to my request? Or am I losing patience with the 'slow' movement of the Lord on my request?

Gospel Reflection

March 12, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

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

12:15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 Ez 47:1-9, 12

The angel brought me, Ezekiel, back to the entrance of the temple of the LORD, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the right side. Then when he had walked off to the east with a measuring cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water, which was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand and once more had me wade through the water, which was now knee-deep. Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade; the water was up to my waist. Once more he measured off a thousand, but there was now a river through which I could not wade; for the water had risen so high it had become a river that could not be crossed except by swimming. He asked me, “Have you seen this, son of man?” Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit. Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides. He said to me, “This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R. (8) The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

Gospel Jn 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.”  He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’“ They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, when we are forgiven of our sins, our dignity as sons and daughters of God is reinstated. It is given back to us in full.

The man in the Gospel needed healing. Yes, physical healing. But in the order of importance, in the order of priority, he needed spiritual healing, more than the physical healing.

God is telling us, "Come to me and I will give you rest. Come to Me, and I will cure you of your paralysis, of your sinfulness. I will cure you of all the illnesses of your spirit." And we must heed this invitation.

The season of Lent is giving us that opportunity to be reconciled back to God. How many of us consider ourselves sinful, as to approach the sacrament of reconciliation? The first step towards healing is for us to acknowledge that we have sinned. Let us tell God that, when He asks us, "What do you want Me to do for you?" Amen.