May 29, 2013
Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time
by Rev. Fr. Joel Jason (Dean, Graduate School of
Theology San Carlos Seminary)
12:15PM Mass at Megamall, Chapel of
the Eucharistic Lord
Come to our aid, O God of the universe, look upon us, show
us the light of your mercies, and put all the nations in dread of you! Thus
they will know, as we know, that there is no God but you, O Lord.
Give new signs and work new wonders.
Gather all the tribes of Jacob, that they may inherit the land as of old, Show mercy to the people called by your name; Israel, whom you named your firstborn. Take pity on your holy city, Jerusalem, your dwelling place. Fill Zion with your majesty, your temple with your glory.
Give evidence of your deeds of old; fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name, Reward those who have hoped in you, and let your prophets be proved true. Hear the prayer of your servants, for you are ever gracious to your people; and lead us in the way of justice. Thus it will be known to the very ends of the earth that you are the eternal God.
Give new signs and work new wonders.
Gather all the tribes of Jacob, that they may inherit the land as of old, Show mercy to the people called by your name; Israel, whom you named your firstborn. Take pity on your holy city, Jerusalem, your dwelling place. Fill Zion with your majesty, your temple with your glory.
Give evidence of your deeds of old; fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name, Reward those who have hoped in you, and let your prophets be proved true. Hear the prayer of your servants, for you are ever gracious to your people; and lead us in the way of justice. Thus it will be known to the very ends of the earth that you are the eternal God.
Responsorial Psalm PS
79:8, 9, 11 and 13
R. (Sirach 36:1b) Show us, O Lord, the light of your
kindness.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and
Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.
Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen
to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be
handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand
him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put
him to death, but after three days he will rise.” Then James and John, the sons
of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us
whatever we ask of you.” He replied, ‘What do you wish me to do for you?” They
answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the
other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can
you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I
am baptized?” They said to him, ‘We can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice that
I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you
will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but
is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became
indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know
that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and
their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so
among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever
wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did
not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
HOMILY
Magandang
tanghali po sa inyo lahat.
There was this famous cardiologist who usually appears on television and is, most of the time, interviewed in CNN. I remember one time, he said, that for you to become a physician, you have to be very arrogant. Sabi niya, kailangan daw maging mayabang ka. But it is a controlled type of arrogance, according to him. Sabi niya, "It takes arrogance to cut someone into half, take out his heart, and believe that you can cure him." Kailangan daw malakas ang loob mo para gawin 'yon. "....And when you have cured him, you give thanks to God and pray to Him, because you know that it is only through the grace of God that you were able to go through it."
Maganda 'yong sinabi niya, ano. Alam nyo, no'ng pinagninilayan ko 'yong sinabi niya. sabi ko sa sarili ko, siguro kung ako'ng doktor, madali siguro akong yayabang din. Biro mo hahatiin mo 'yong dibdib ng isang tao, kukunin mo 'yong puso niya at ooperahan mo. And then you are able to cure the person of his ailment. At kapag nagawa mo 'yon, siguro ang pakiramdam mo talaga'y Diyos ka. But according to him, once you have done that, you can only thank God and pray to him, because it is only through the grace of God that you are able to do it.
In our Gospel for today, the message is very simple. In our Gospel, we can see two conflicting world views. Ano 'yong unang world view? It is the selfless world view. Ang sabi ni Hesus, tayo ngayon ay pupunta sa Herusalem. At pagdating natin sa Herusalem, the Son of Man - referring to Himself - will be handed over to the Gentiles. And there, He would die and rise again. So, ano ang pinapakita ni Hesus? It is the attitude of offering yourself to the other.
Ano 'yong nakita nating world view ng mga disipulo? Habang nagsasalita si Hesus about his impending death, the disciples were arguing among themselves who is the greatest. At ito pang si James at si John, ano 'yong kanilang request sa Panginoon? Can you grant that one sits at Your left, and the other at Your right? While Jesus was talking about the selfless world view, the disciples were pre-occupied with the selfish world view. Magkaiba ang pananaw nila. And at the end of the Gospel, Jesus tells us that it cannot be that way with you. Anyone who wants to be first must be the last. And anyone who wants to be last should be the first. That is the paradox of Christian discipleship.
Siguro sa tanghaling ito, I want to offer two practical recommendations, so we can adopt this selfless world view. Ano po 'yong una? Number one, let us not take ourselves too seriously. Don't take yourself too seriously. Kilala ninyo si Pope Francis, at alam nating marami tayong nababasa tungkol kay Pope Francis. Alam ninyo 'yong kanyang mga security officer, nalilito na. Lahat sila ay gulong-gulo na. Bakit? Every now and then, every morning, they will not find Pope Francis in his private quarters. Minsan magugulat sila, si Pope Francis matatagpuan nila, naglalakad doon sa Vatican. One time, matatagpuan nila si Pope Francis na nandoon sa ordinary room ng parish, uupo doon sa adoration chapel, doon sa likod, kasama ng mga tao. And then 'yong mga tao magugulat. Pag lingon nila, ang katabi nila ay si Pope Francis. Just imagine, kung halimbawa nakaupo kayo diyan sa adoration chapel, and then, pagkagising mo - dahil natutulog ka na - (laughs), makikita mong katabi mo na si Pope Francis. Pope Francis does not take himself too seriously. Walang mga assi-assistant, walang pasecu-security.
Kaya nga mayroong isang anecdote in the Vatican. Pinapagalitan daw si Pope Francis. Ang sabi daw ng protocol officer, 'hindi ka umaayos, hindi ka kumikilos katulad ng isang Santo Papa'. And then ang sabi daw ni Pope Francis "When I accepted the papacy, I was told that I was to be the successor of the poor fisherman in Galilee, not of the Roman Emperor'. Maganda 'yong sinabi niya. He does not take himself too seriously.
Eh tayo - do we take ourselves too seriously? Nabigyan lang tayo ng kaunting posisyon, ang pakiramdam natin, we own the world. Siguro in this mass, let it be one practical question that we can ask ourselves. Do you take yourself too seriously? Pag hindi mo nakukuha 'yong gusto mong makuha, nagdi- 'divah moment' ka ba? (laughs) Marami sa atin, pag hindi lang natin nakuha 'yong ating gusto, eh we go into an emotional feat, ano? Mga 'divah moments'....
Second recommendation - celebrate the presence of other people in your life. Alam ho n'yo, si John Stockton is the NBA all-time leader in assists. Para sa mga hindi naglalaro ng basketball, 'yong assist po ay 'yong pag ipinasa mo 'yong bola sa iyong kakampi...at dahil sa ipinasa mo 'yong bola sa iyong kakampi, naka-shoot ang iyong kakampi. That is an assist. Tayong mga nanonood ng basketball, kung hindi natin naiintindihan 'yong laro, ang nakikita lang natin ay 'yong sumu-shoot, at ang pinapalakpakan lang natin ay 'yong nakaka-shoot. Ang sabi ni John Stockton, "In every goal is a hidden assist." We can ask ourselves - what are the goals that we have accomplished in our life? And have you acknowledged the hidden assist that was given to you in every goal that you were able to accomplish? Minsan ang nakikita lang natin 'yong goal...hindi 'yong nagbigay ng assist.
In this Holy Mass, let that be the grace that we will ask from the Lord. The grace not to take ourselves too seriously, and secondly, the generosity to celebrate the presence of other people in our lives. Remember, it was pride that turned angels into devils. And it is humility that turns men into angels. Ang tanong ng Ebanghelyo sa atin ngayon - What are you turning out to be, or what do you want to turn out to be?
There was this famous cardiologist who usually appears on television and is, most of the time, interviewed in CNN. I remember one time, he said, that for you to become a physician, you have to be very arrogant. Sabi niya, kailangan daw maging mayabang ka. But it is a controlled type of arrogance, according to him. Sabi niya, "It takes arrogance to cut someone into half, take out his heart, and believe that you can cure him." Kailangan daw malakas ang loob mo para gawin 'yon. "....And when you have cured him, you give thanks to God and pray to Him, because you know that it is only through the grace of God that you were able to go through it."
Maganda 'yong sinabi niya, ano. Alam nyo, no'ng pinagninilayan ko 'yong sinabi niya. sabi ko sa sarili ko, siguro kung ako'ng doktor, madali siguro akong yayabang din. Biro mo hahatiin mo 'yong dibdib ng isang tao, kukunin mo 'yong puso niya at ooperahan mo. And then you are able to cure the person of his ailment. At kapag nagawa mo 'yon, siguro ang pakiramdam mo talaga'y Diyos ka. But according to him, once you have done that, you can only thank God and pray to him, because it is only through the grace of God that you are able to do it.
In our Gospel for today, the message is very simple. In our Gospel, we can see two conflicting world views. Ano 'yong unang world view? It is the selfless world view. Ang sabi ni Hesus, tayo ngayon ay pupunta sa Herusalem. At pagdating natin sa Herusalem, the Son of Man - referring to Himself - will be handed over to the Gentiles. And there, He would die and rise again. So, ano ang pinapakita ni Hesus? It is the attitude of offering yourself to the other.
Ano 'yong nakita nating world view ng mga disipulo? Habang nagsasalita si Hesus about his impending death, the disciples were arguing among themselves who is the greatest. At ito pang si James at si John, ano 'yong kanilang request sa Panginoon? Can you grant that one sits at Your left, and the other at Your right? While Jesus was talking about the selfless world view, the disciples were pre-occupied with the selfish world view. Magkaiba ang pananaw nila. And at the end of the Gospel, Jesus tells us that it cannot be that way with you. Anyone who wants to be first must be the last. And anyone who wants to be last should be the first. That is the paradox of Christian discipleship.
Siguro sa tanghaling ito, I want to offer two practical recommendations, so we can adopt this selfless world view. Ano po 'yong una? Number one, let us not take ourselves too seriously. Don't take yourself too seriously. Kilala ninyo si Pope Francis, at alam nating marami tayong nababasa tungkol kay Pope Francis. Alam ninyo 'yong kanyang mga security officer, nalilito na. Lahat sila ay gulong-gulo na. Bakit? Every now and then, every morning, they will not find Pope Francis in his private quarters. Minsan magugulat sila, si Pope Francis matatagpuan nila, naglalakad doon sa Vatican. One time, matatagpuan nila si Pope Francis na nandoon sa ordinary room ng parish, uupo doon sa adoration chapel, doon sa likod, kasama ng mga tao. And then 'yong mga tao magugulat. Pag lingon nila, ang katabi nila ay si Pope Francis. Just imagine, kung halimbawa nakaupo kayo diyan sa adoration chapel, and then, pagkagising mo - dahil natutulog ka na - (laughs), makikita mong katabi mo na si Pope Francis. Pope Francis does not take himself too seriously. Walang mga assi-assistant, walang pasecu-security.
Kaya nga mayroong isang anecdote in the Vatican. Pinapagalitan daw si Pope Francis. Ang sabi daw ng protocol officer, 'hindi ka umaayos, hindi ka kumikilos katulad ng isang Santo Papa'. And then ang sabi daw ni Pope Francis "When I accepted the papacy, I was told that I was to be the successor of the poor fisherman in Galilee, not of the Roman Emperor'. Maganda 'yong sinabi niya. He does not take himself too seriously.
Eh tayo - do we take ourselves too seriously? Nabigyan lang tayo ng kaunting posisyon, ang pakiramdam natin, we own the world. Siguro in this mass, let it be one practical question that we can ask ourselves. Do you take yourself too seriously? Pag hindi mo nakukuha 'yong gusto mong makuha, nagdi- 'divah moment' ka ba? (laughs) Marami sa atin, pag hindi lang natin nakuha 'yong ating gusto, eh we go into an emotional feat, ano? Mga 'divah moments'....
Second recommendation - celebrate the presence of other people in your life. Alam ho n'yo, si John Stockton is the NBA all-time leader in assists. Para sa mga hindi naglalaro ng basketball, 'yong assist po ay 'yong pag ipinasa mo 'yong bola sa iyong kakampi...at dahil sa ipinasa mo 'yong bola sa iyong kakampi, naka-shoot ang iyong kakampi. That is an assist. Tayong mga nanonood ng basketball, kung hindi natin naiintindihan 'yong laro, ang nakikita lang natin ay 'yong sumu-shoot, at ang pinapalakpakan lang natin ay 'yong nakaka-shoot. Ang sabi ni John Stockton, "In every goal is a hidden assist." We can ask ourselves - what are the goals that we have accomplished in our life? And have you acknowledged the hidden assist that was given to you in every goal that you were able to accomplish? Minsan ang nakikita lang natin 'yong goal...hindi 'yong nagbigay ng assist.
In this Holy Mass, let that be the grace that we will ask from the Lord. The grace not to take ourselves too seriously, and secondly, the generosity to celebrate the presence of other people in our lives. Remember, it was pride that turned angels into devils. And it is humility that turns men into angels. Ang tanong ng Ebanghelyo sa atin ngayon - What are you turning out to be, or what do you want to turn out to be?
