Gospel Reflection

June 03, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

by Rev. Fr. Leo Nilo C. Mangussad, Rector, Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA (EDSA Shrine)
5:30PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

 

Reading 1 Tb 1:3; 2:1a-8

I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life on the paths of truth and righteousness. I performed many charitable works for my kinsmen and my people who had been deported with me to Nineveh, in Assyria.

On our festival of Pentecost, the feast of Weeks,  a fine dinner was prepared for me, and I reclined to eat. The table was set for me, and when many different dishes were placed before me, I said to my son Tobiah: “My son, go out and try to find a poor man from among our kinsmen exiled here in Nineveh. If he is a sincere worshiper of God, bring him back with you, so that he can share this meal with me. Indeed, son, I shall wait for you to come back.”

Tobiah went out to look for some poor kinsman of ours. When he returned he exclaimed, “Father!” I said to him, “What is it, son?” He answered, “Father, one of our people has been murdered! His body lies in the market place where he was just strangled!” I sprang to my feet, leaving the dinner untouched; and I carried the dead man from the street and put him in one of the rooms, so that I might bury him after sunset. Returning to my own quarters, I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow. I was reminded of the oracle pronounced by the prophet Amos against Bethel:

“All your festivals shall be turned into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation.”

And I wept. Then at sunset I went out, dug a grave, and buried him.

The neighbors mocked me, saying to one another: “He is still not afraid! Once before he was hunted down for execution  because of this very thing; yet now that he has scarcely escaped, here he is again burying the dead!”

Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1b-2, 3b-4, 5-6

R. (1b) Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Mk 12:1-12

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture passage:

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?”

They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.

HOMILY

Good afternoon my dear brothers and sisters. 

Once there was this class in Social Studies and they were discussing among themselves what they can do to effect some change in the society. So one suggested, "Why don't we help the street children so that we could feed them? Yes. Why don't be pull our resources and buy food for them? Yes, why don't we buy clothes for them? Yes, why don't we look for them and gather them?" And then someone said, "We are going to do all these things, but isn't it supposed to be the work of health workers to feed them, the work of the government, or the work of the policemen to put them together so that they will not be disturbing the peace and quiet of the society? Why are we going to do these things?" To which everyone also agreed, unfortunately. At the end of the discussion, no action was planned.

My dear brothers and sisters, how many times have we been in the same position? We want to help, but in the mercies of our heart, we are tempted not to, maybe because of the present situation, because of what we think should be done, and not what we can really do to help. True mercy is not simply writing a cheque and sending it to people who are in need. It becomes a very impersonal way of concern. True mercy is a very personal concern on people - what can we do and give up for them. 

That was the concern of Tobit in the First Reading. The Gospel also showed the true concern of the owner of the vineyard. He not only wanted a portion of the produce of what he has, but he even sent His son to help, to guide and to protect. But what did the tenants do? They got rid of him. 

My brothers and sisters, God sends us helpers in His vineyard. God sends us people with mercy in their hearts to help us. But how many of us truly embrace them and work with them to show our personal concern for others? Are we just like the tenants in our Gospel - waiting to kill those who are wanting to do what is good for our society? Or are we those who, out of our own personal desire, just help, because this is what Jesus has done for us and would like us to do for others?

The choice is ours. We can discuss continuously, endlessly, and accomplish nothing. Or we can work now, and do our own small part in making our lives here on earth better.  

Gospel Reflection

June 02, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

by Rev. Fr. Marvin Mejia

(Assistant Secretary General, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines)
7:15AM Mass, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel (Greenbelt Chapel), Makati

 

Reading 1 Gn 14:18-20

In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4

R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
"Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Reading 2 1 Cor 11:23-26

Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,  that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,  took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,  "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,  you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Gospel Lk 9:11b-17

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, "Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here." He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

HOMILY

What are the most important words ever spoken on this world? There are many memorable words spoken by saints, presidents and popes. The words of Jesus, quoted by St. Paul that says, "This is My Body, this is My Blood", are the most important words ever spoken. They have shaped the life and spirituality of billions of people in many generations. 

Today's Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, is a feast that is centuries old. And this is a feast that is very Catholic. Today, we reflect on the heart of the Eucharist where lies the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus' gift to the Church on the night before He died was not the gift of His parables or His blessings, but the gift of His own self in form of Bread and Wine. 

The Eucharist celebrates Jesus Himself - Body and Blood, soul and divinity. That is why every time we receive Holy Communion, we are in close contact with Jesus than was possible to anyone, during His earthly life. In the Eucharist, the actual distance between ourselves and Christ vanishes. Jesus gave us the Holy Eucharist as a place of unity, to draw to Him His Disciples, and them, to each other. 

It is, therefore, an odd thing that the Holy Eucharist or the Holy Mass has been a place of contention or debates for many years. Maybe it is a sign of how central the Holy Mass is, to the Catholics, that we are so sensitive to any changes introduced. There have been debates about translations, gestures, postures, how to receive Communion, who can give Communion, and who can receive Communion. Of course, it is important to remember that receiving Holy Communion is not simply a personal gesture, but that we are in communion with Christ and the Church. Catholics, or those who are claiming to be Catholics, who have not followed the Gospel, who are in serious sin and whose lifestyle depart from the Gospel, and who do not believe what the Catholic Church teaches, should refrain from going to Communion. That is the universal and common teaching. 

However, the pre-condition for each mass and the invitation to Holy Communion is not whether another person is receiving worthily, but whether I myself am receiving Holy Communion worthily. Am I in union with the Church and what it teaches - not just one teaching, but in all that the Church teaches? Am I in the state of grace? Am I trying to be an honest follower of Jesus? Communion - receiving the most precious Body and Blood of Christ - is more than just receiving. Coming to Communion is an act of renewing our commitment to Jesus. It is a statement of belief in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a commitment to unity with the Church and all Catholics. Coming to Communion, which is receiving Jesus in His most precious Body and Blood, is not a perfunctory gesture, but a profound action of faith in Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, we all live to examine the consistency of our life with the Gospel. If we avoid mortal sin but are still lacking in faith, the Lord will lead us to become stronger followers. That strength and grace comes from the Holy Eucharist. On this Feast of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we can examine ourselves and try to make the words and sacrifice of the Mass our words and our sacrifice. We receive our penance together with the congregation and make sure that we join the real congregation on the mass on Sunday, and not just the 'television' congregation. Do we come to spread goodwill and peace every Sunday?

The Corpus Christi Sunday is the best time to refresh our reverence and thanks to the Eucharist....in renewing our commitment to the Blessed Sacrament. For the Eucharist is the Sacrament of Church life. It is the center of our life.

Gospel Reflection

June 01, 2013

Saturday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

by Rev. Fr. Carmelo P. Arada (Minister)

(Ministry on Lectors and Commentators, Commission on Liturgy, Archdiocese of Manila)

8:00AM Mass at the Layforce Chapel, San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, Makati

 

Reading 1 Sir 51:12 cd-20

I thank the LORD and I praise him; I bless the name of the LORD. When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer I prayed for her before the temple, and I will seek her until the end, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe. My heart delighted in her, My feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was familiar with her. In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction. Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise. I became resolutely devoted to her— the good I persistently strove for. My soul was tormented in seeking her,  My hand opened her gate and I came to know her secrets. I directed my soul to her, and in cleanness I attained to her.

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Gospel Mk 11:27-33

Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Sunday Gospel Lk 9:11b-17

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, "Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here." He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

HOMILY

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Pakibati naman po ng good morning ang inyong mga katabi. (people greet each other) Ang ingay talaga ninyo. (laughs)

Naniniwala ba kayo sa himala? (people say 'yes') Tignan n'yo nga po 'yong katabi ninyo, kung siya ay isang himala o isang sumpa. (loud laughs)

Sa Ebanghelyo po natin, meron pong nais ipaalala sa atin ang Diyos sa kwento. If we want miracles to happen in our day, let us remember these three secrets.

Ang unang sikreto ng himala para kay Hesus para makita nating kumikilos ang Diyos sa buhay natin, ay huwag tayong magsimula sa wala. Magsimula tayo sa meron. Maraming pagkakataon na kaya hindi natin nakikitang may biyaya ang Diyos ay dahil ang hinahanap natin ay 'yong wala. Sabi ng mga alagad sa Ebanghelyo, 'wala po tayong maipapakain sa kanila'. Sa totoo, tamad at madamot lang 'yong mga alagad. Meron naman palang limang tinapay at dalawang isda. Sabi nila wala, pero meron naman pala. Hindi nila makita 'yong biyaya sapagkat 'yong maliit, 'yong kakaunti ay tinuring nilang wala.

Alam n'yo mga kapatid, maraming pagkakataon na katulad din tayo ng mga alagad. Itinuturing nating wala ang meron naman pala. Sa dalawang pagkakataon. Una - kapag ayaw nating magbigay. Kapag ayaw nating magbahagi, kapag nagdadamot tayo, sasabihin nating wala, pero meron naman pala. At ikalawa, kapag hindi tayo nakukuntento sa biyaya ng Diyos sa atin, dahil laging mas maganda, mas ok, mas bongga 'yong sa kapitbahay, 'yong sa kumare mo. Mga kapatid, tuwing ituturing nating wala ang meron naman pala, minamaliit natin ang biyaya ng Diyos. Iniinsulto natin ang kabutihan ng Diyos. Para po mamulat tayo na may himala sa buhay natin, huwag tayong magsimula sa wala. Kilalanin natin kung ano ang mayroon.

Ikalawa po, hindi dahilan ang kakaunti para hindi makapagbigay. Hindi dahilan ang kahirapan para hindi makapagbahagi. 'Yon pong maliit na bata - hindi po binanggit dito kung sino 'yong nagbigay - pero sa ibang bersiyon ng Ebanghelyong ito, isang maliit na bata ang nagbigay ng limang tinapay at dalawang isda. Ito pong batang ito, marahil pinagbilinan ng Nanay at Tatay niya, "Huwag mong bibitawan 'yan. Kapag binitawan mo 'yan, kapag nawala 'yan, wala tayong kakainin. Magugutom tayo." Pero dahil sa kagandahang-loob ng batang ito, 'yong limang tinapay at dalawang isda na ipinagpasalamat sa Diyos, ibinahagi sa kapwa, hindi lang po sumapat. Lumabis pa. Labindalawang basket ng tinapay ang nakolekta pagkatapos makakain ang lahat.

Mga kapatid, hindi po dahilan ang kakaunti, hindi po dahilan ang kahirapan para hindi po tayo magbahagi o magbigay. Minsan po, sinasabi natin, "Mahirap din kami. 'Yon bang kaunting kakainin namin, 'yong kakaunting kita sa araw-araw, ibibigay pa ba namin sa mahihirap?" Tatanungin ko po kayo. Meron na po ba kayong nabalitaang mahirap na Kristiyano na nagbahagi at namatay sa gutom? Pero mayroong mga Kristiyano na naglalakad pa, humihinga pa, nakakapagsalita pa, pero dahil sa karamutan, patay na. Sapagkat pinatay niya si Hesus sa kanyang puso na nagtuturo sa kanyang magbigay. Hindi po natin ikayayaman ang pagdadamot. Hindi natin ikayayaman na sarilinin ang mga biyaya ng Diyos sa atin. Ikamamatay natin ito. Hindi dahilan ang kakaunti, hindi dahilan ang kahirapan para hindi makapagbigay.

Minsan daw po ay nagpunta si Cardinal Tagle sa isang soup kitchen, sa isang feeding program sa Imus. At ang sistema po doon, 'yong mga batang pinakakain ay may kasamang Nanay. Sa di kalayuan daw napansin ni Cardinal na mukhang batang bata pa 'yong 'nanay'. Mukhang grade school pa lang daw. 'Yon pala siya 'yong Ate no'ng bata. 'Yong Nanay kasi 'yong magsusubo at magpapakain do'n sa bata. Nilapitan niya 'yong magkapatid, at nakita niya 'yong Ate na namumutla na. Halatang-halatang gutom na. Sabi niya, "O bakit hindi ka rin sumubo? Bakit hindi ka rin kumain? Sasabihan ko 'yong mga organizer na bigyan ka rin ng pagkain." Sabi daw po no'ng bata, "Hindi na po ako pwede dito. Hanggang pang-pitong taon lang po ang pinakakain dito. Kapag kumain po ako at nandaya, may magugutom po. Meron pong di makakakain."

Sa lugar na pwede naman sanang magsinungaling...sa lugar na pwede naman sanang mandaya, may pagbabahagi at pagmamahal. Dahil hindi dahilan ang kakaunti at kahirapan, para takasan natin ang pananagutan nating magbahagi at magbigay. Sabi po ng second Plenary Council of the Philippines, no one is so rich that he has nothing to receive, and no one is so poor that he has nothing to give.

Ang ikatlong sikreto ng himala. Kung tatanungin ko po kayo - ano ba ang himala para sa inyo? Alam ko ang magiging tugon ninyo ay biyaya ng Diyos. Ang lahat ng himala ay galing sa Diyos, sa kabutihan ng Diyos. Totoo po 'yan. Pero mayroon po itong katapat. Ang bawat himala ay pagkilala din sa kabutihan ng kapwa. Sabi po ni Cardinal Rosales, if we want miracles to happen in our day, we must be willing to invest goodness. Kailangan nating mamuhunan ng kabutihan. Totoo naman po.

Sa kwento natin ngayon, kung walang bata na nagbigay ng limang tinapay at dalawang isda, walang himala. Sa kwento ng kasalan sa Cana, kung walang mga mama na nagpuno ng mga tapayan, nagtiyagang magbuhat nito at dalhin kay Hesus, walang tubig na magiging alak, walang himala. Doon po sa kwento ng mamang paralitiko, hindi niya talaga kayang pumunta kay Hesus dahil hindi siya nakakagalaw at nakakakilos. At kung walang apat na kaibigan na nagtiyagang buhatin siya, at noong masikip yo'ng lugar ay binutas pa 'yong bubong at kisame at dahan-dahan siyang dinala kay Hesus....kung walang apat na kaibigang nagmalasakit, walang himala.

Kaya po totoo 'yong sinabi ni Ate Guy sa himala. (laughs) Walang himala. Sapagkat nasa puso ng bawat tao ang himala.

Nakakapagtaka po, sinabi ni Hesus, ipunin daw 'yong mga tira-tira. Inisip ko, nagtitipid ba o nagsisinop lang si Hesus? Mukhang hindi. 'Yon daw pong labindalawa ay simbulo ng simbahan. Kaya nga po ang simbahan ay tinatawag na maging tira-tira. We are called to be leftovers. Tinatawag tayong maging tira-tira. Ang tanong ko po sa inyo - naranasan n'yo na po bang maging tira-tira? 'Yon bang ibinigay n'yo na ang lahat, parang nasaid na kayo, parang walang bumabalik, parang napagod na kayong magmahal? Kapag meron pong tira-tira, if there are leftovers, it only means meron pong nagbigay. Merong hindi nagdamot. Merong hinayaan ang sarili na maubos at masaid, para meron naman mabusog.
Ito po 'yong panawagan sa atin bilang mga lingkod ng simbahan. Para tayong mga kandila at tinapay. Ang tinapay para makabusog, kailangang pira-pirasuhin at maubos. Ang kandila, para makapagbigay liwanag, kailangang matunaw at mawala. Huwag po tayong magsasawang magbigay. Sapagkat ang mga tunay na himala ay nangyayari, hindi sa pagkabig, kundi sa pagbabahagi ng pag-ibig. When God created each one of us, we were created to be miracles. We were created to be blessings for each other. That is why there is no need to look for miracles in places around us. Because the miracle is inside our hearts. Do not look for blessings and miracles around you. Be the answer to someone else's pain. Be the miracle. Be the blessing. Amen.