Gospel Reflection

April 24, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Easter Season

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

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

                         

Reading 1 Acts 12:24—13:5a

The word of God continued to spread and grow.

After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.

So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

Responsorial Psalm PS 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8

R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Jn 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.  Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

HOMILY

Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat.

In our First Reading for today taken from the Acts of the Apostles, we are told of the slow but sure growth of the Church. After the Resurrection of the Lord, the Apostles were sent to preach the Christian Gospel. And slowly but surely, the Gospel of Christ began to spread in different places.

In our First Reading for today, we hear the story of Paul and Barnabas. But while I was meditating on this Reading last night, one phrase caught my attention. According to the Reading, the Holy Spirit spoke, and it said, "Set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work that I will give them." Set them apart. Kumbaga eh....in our common language, i-reserve ninyo, itabi ninyo, dahil meron silang gagawing mahalaga.

You know, holiness is precisely that. When you look at the original Hebrew word for 'holiness', it comes from the word 'hagios'. That is why when you study the different lives of the saints, it is called hagiography. In Greek, the word is 'sacra' or sacred. But what is the common thing that we can find in the words hagios and sacra? Both of them mean 'holy' or 'sacred'. But when you look at the dictionary, there is a primary meaning. Dalawa talaga ang ibig sabihin niya. Ang unang-una, 'to set apart', and then only secondly, 'to become holy'.

I think we can learn from that definition. Why? You can only become holy when you first set apart. Tayo ay magiging banal kapag ang unang ginawa natin ay tayo ay mag-iisang-tabi muna, o tayo ay magre-reserve muna.

Yesterday, I was attending a prayer meeting. And there was one woman who was making her testimony. She said that in her daily life at home, she sets apart a particular time of the day to pray. And during that time, no one can disturb her. Not even her children. Her children know that that time is set apart for the Lord. All throughout the day, they can disturb her, but during that particular time, they know that it is set apart for the Lord.

Ganoon naman talaga ang una, eh. Paano ba tayo magiging banal? Kailangang mag-set aside muna tayo. Sasabihin natin, "Panginoon, itong panahong ito ay para sa iyo lamang."" But one thing that caught my attention in the sharing of that woman is that she said, "I do not only set apart. I protect that time, and I honor that time." 'Yon pala ang maganda ring gawin natin. We do not only set aside a time for the Lord. We also must protect it. And after protecting it, we must also honor it.

I'm sure all of you here set aside a particular time for your spiritual life. For example, bakit kayo nandidito? You are setting aside time for the Lord. Sa dinami-dami ng inyong schedule, sinasabi ninyo, "Panginoon, itong oras na ito ay gagamitin ko, para ako maka-attend ng banal na misa." So that's already the first step. You have already set something aside.

But something important needs to be added. We need to protect it. Kailangan nating ingatan iyon. And what does it mean to protect it? Ibig sabihin, hindi ka gagawa ng mga bagay-bagay na ma-e-endanger 'yon. And then after protecting it, you have to honor it. Kahit na ano'ng mangyari, ito ay aking igagalang. Ito'y aking kikilalanin.

Kaya lang ano ang nagiging problema minsan? Pag may mga bagay na dumarating, ang unang unang nawawala sa atin ay 'yong mga bagay na para sa Panginoon. Many times, when I hear confession, people will tell me, "Father, I missed Sunday mass." And then if I ask them, "May I know the reason why you were not able to go to Sunday mass?" "Ah, because Father last Sunday we went to the mall. And because we watched a movie and went shopping, naubusan na po kami ng panahon." Sometimes, when something comes up, ano 'yong unang unang nahuhuli? Nahuhuli 'yong mga bagay-bagay na para sa Panginoon. Why? Because we do not protect it, and we do not honor it.

It is not enough that we set things aside for the Lord. We also need to protect it, and we also need to honor it. And I am talking here, not only about time. Kasi marami tayong bagay na dapat ingatan. Halimbawa 'yong prayer ni St. Ignatius. Sabi niya, "Take, O Lord, my mind, my will, my memory, my understanding." 'Yon palang mga bagay na 'yon, dapat din nating i-set aside. Lord, I set aside my mind, only for the things that are holy. Lord. I set aside my heart, my desires, only for the things that are holy. And I wish to protect it, and I wish to honor it. So at the end of the day, ano'ng sinasabi natin sa Panginoon? Just like the prayer of St. Ignatius, "Lord, take away my mind, my will, my memory. Everything, I offer them to you." When we do that, then we are already on the road to holiness.

As we continue with this Holy mass, let that be the grace that we will ask from the Lord. That we may become more generous to the Lord. And let us ask for the grace and perseverance, that we may protect our promise to God, and more importantly, honor all our promises to God. Amen.



Gospel Reflection

April 23, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Easter Season

by Rev.  Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

                         

Reading 1 Acts 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews. There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however, who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.  The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Responsorial Psalm PS 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (117:1a) All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those who know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Jn 10:22-30

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,“How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus said, "I told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name testify to Me."

This is the exacting and nourishing declaration from Jesus. And Jesus is saying, 'true enough'.  

We should equate our words with action. You see, we try to imitate the lordship of God. But in our daily lives, it is often the opposite, more on words, but only a few actions, a few changes in our life.

My dear brothers and sisters, once again, we are reminded about the key of today's Gospel - consistency. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

April 22, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Easter Season

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

6:30AM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

                         

Reading 1 Acts 11:1-18

The Apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem the circumcised believers confronted him, saying, ‘You entered the house of uncircumcised people and ate with them.” Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying,“I was at prayer in the city of Joppa when in a trance I had a vision, something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered from the sky by its four corners, and it came to me. Looking intently into it, I observed and saw the four-legged animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. I also heard a voice say to me, ‘Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.’ But I said, ‘Certainly not, sir, because nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time a voice from heaven answered,‘What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.’ This happened three times, and then everything was drawn up again into the sky. Just then three men appeared at the house where we were, who had been sent to me from Caesarea. The Spirit told me to accompany them without discriminating. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. He related to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, saying, ‘Send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter, who will speak words to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?” When they heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, “God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 42:2-3; 43:3, 4

R. (see 3a) Athirst is my soul for the living God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.
R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Then will I go in to the altar of God,
the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
O God, my God!
R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Jn 10:1-10

Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

HOMILY

Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd exposed His life to risk by going against the popular notion at that time, by exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the church leaders, by befriending the enemies of the Israelites - the Samaritans, and by teaching the true meaning of what love is, what service is, what life is all about.

In my seven years as a priest, I have realized one thing. It is not about me; it is about Him. It is about the Shepherd who calls me to follow Him faithfully, no matter what the cost. As a priest, we are also exposed to telling the truth based on the Gospel values and based on the Gospel teachings. But going against the popular, we are also tried, we are also ridiculed, we are also attacked. But let us go on. Let us be faithful to the call that our Shepherd has called us to. And that is to share the Kingdom, to expose the truth, no matter what it costs. This is what our Lord Jesus Christ did, and this is what we must do, as His sheep. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

April 21, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Easter Season

Fourth Sunday of Easter

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

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

                         

Reading 1 Acts 13:14, 43-52

Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats. Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.

On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5

R. (3c) We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Rev 7:9, 14b-17

I, John, had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

Then one of the elders said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Gospel Jn 10:27-30

Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

HOMILY

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, the words of the Church asks us to pray for young men to become priests, and men and women to become religious - religious sisters and religious brothers. It is God the Father who is the true Shepherd, letting us know how much He loves us through the teachings of the Gospel and the life of Jesus. And it is wonderful to know that Jesus and the Father are one. 

His sheep can hear His voice. But unless someone goes and tells them, they do not become conscious of the Good Shepherd. We are the inheritors of the missionaries who came to us centuries ago. Here at Greenbelt Chapel, we have many missionary priests who hear confessions and say the mass. Many of our diocesan priests, and many of our religious men come from Catholic families - families who, at one moment, had to make a sacrifice, to allow their young son - the young men of their families - to respond to the call of Jesus. 

It was not easy to do that. In many instances, they are the oldest son. They are the only son. And yet, they allow the son to listen to the call "Come follow me as priests." And as a consequence of that, we here, at Greenbelt Chapel, are blessed, many many times on Sundays, twice on Saturday evening, and then during the week. All of these, you and I may take for granted. But God help us, if we do. Because these young men go out and proclaim who is the Good Shepherd, who is this Christ who is risen from the dead, who is this Christ that calls us to be one, who destroys all division. And even now, in the person of our newly elected Pope Francis, he is saying to the candidates of the priesthood, and the priests and the bishops and the cardinals who are already priests, "Give yourself to the people. Live out what you celebrate in liberty, in your concern for the poor, in your willingness to go beyond the chapel, go beyond the structured church, go beyond the convento, and go up and down the places where God's holy people are." In other words, they are to be a shepherd among God's people. 

When we celebrate the mass, it is never my mass as a priest. It is our celebration. And none of us can say that because I am a priest, because I am a eucharistic minister, because I am part of the choir, all that I do is centered around this chapel. That is not the limit. We must exercise our mission as baptized Catholics. We must be in mission to others. It is not only for me to say the Liturgy of the Word, and then come to the Liturgy of the Eucharist and then say my work as a priest is done. We, the baptized, and myself, as a member of the priesthood of Christ - each and everyone of us must bring the Good News of Jesus to others.  

We can't presume that we will always have a priest. That presumption is wrong. In many places in our own country, to those of you who come from the province, know this. Sometimes, people see the priest maybe once or twice a year. Why? There are so few. My brother Catholics, my sister Catholics - open up your heart, first of all, in prayer. Pray that God will open the hearts of young men to respond to the call of Jesus.

But one does not become a priest for security, for position, or for some kind of earthly way of relating to people who puts us on pedestal. There should be no pedestals in priesthood. There should be no separation of God's Kingdom. What we celebrate in the celebration of Eucharist, we are called to live it out in our daily lives. 

And if there are any young men who are here, listening and celebrating the Eucharist together with us, don't be afraid to listen to the call of the Good Shepherd. Don't be afraid to be away from your families. Don't be afraid to leave your position in the industry. Don't be afraid to leave your own homeland. I can say this in my own experience. No matter what we offer to God, He returns it to us in a hundredfold way. The wonderful people that we are called to catechize, the wonderful people that we are called to reconcile in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the wonderful families into which a new child has been born and we can be the instrument of Jesus' baptizing them, and bringing them into the body of believers, the Church. And the greatest gift of all is to be able to come and do what I am doing now with you - to celebrate the Eucharist. 

When I look back in my 57 years as a priest, I can say that I have also become homesick. But God fills up whatever sacrifices we make in a way that we never imagine. But it is not a life of softness. It is not a life of temporariness. It is the total giving of self to bring the news of the Good Shepherd to others. And what a vocation that is. 

It does not happen overnight. It comes from good, Catholic families, where fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers live out their Catholic lives in love, forgiveness and charity. They are not afraid to go out and be with others who, perhaps, are poorer than they are, more in need as they are in need. The young man sees this and it nourishes him and strengthens him, and then the young man himself opens his heart in prayer.

The Church needs shepherds. Shepherds who are willing to sacrifice. Shepherds who are willing to leave their wonderful parents, their wonderful families, and maybe for some, even their wonderful country, to bring Jesus others. This is what this Sunday is all about. Pray for vocations. Encourage vocations within the family. And if these young men hear the call of Jesus, I say to you. Do not be afraid. Follow Jesus as Shepherd. Follow Jesus as priest. But remember this. You will be engaged in carrying a cross. To be a priest, to be a follower of Jesus, must include the cross. And it is in this identity that we take on the work of the Good Shepherd - Christ who is risen from the dead. 

Let us pray. Pray, yes, for the priests. Pray, yes, for the bishops. Pray for our Holy Father. In a very short time, he has given to each and every one of us an example of emptying ourselves. Just recently, he told every priest on Holy Thursday night, when he celebrated mass in the jail for young people, "We must go out of our conventos. We must go out of the areas where we feel comfortable...Bring the news of Jesus to others. 

This vocation is to be lived out by our Catholic families - the source of good, dedicated, and sacrificing persons. They will follow Jesus if you, our Catholic families, give them the example. Give them the support of your prayers. Encourage them, if, indeed, this is the call of Jesus. 

God, who is present in each one of us, open our hearts in gratitude for the gift of faith, the gift that is given to so many young Filipino men and women. 

May you, yourselves, encourage the very same vocation - to follow Jesus as a priest.