Gospel Reflection

June 12, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. David "Dave" T. Concepcion

(Spiritual Director, Holy Apostles Senior Seminary, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Center, Guadalupe, Makati City)
12;15PM Mass, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati

Reading 1 2 Cor 3:4-11

Brothers and sisters: Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm PS 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9

R. (see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
O LORD, our God, you answered them;
a forgiving God you were to them,
though requiting their misdeeds.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.

Gospel Mt 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

HOMILY

If you see someone who is beautiful, can you imagine how beautiful is the one that made her or him? Can you imagine how beautiful is the source of all beauty? If you admire someone who is holy, can you imagine how holy is the source of holiness? That is what the First Reading is all about. You don't simply admire the beauty of the face of Moses brought about by his holiness, but the people are invited how holy is the God who made Moses holy.

Today, we are celebrating Independence Day. And the simple dynamics is that we begin with dependence, independence and interdependence. Dependence is when, as a little child, we grow dependent to the family to teach us how to live life, how to survive, and most of all, to know what is right or wrong. Independence is not the capacity to do anything you want. Independence is the capacity to exercise responsible freedom. When you talk about responsible freedom, it is the ability to avoid evil and to do good, as a decision from within, and not simply being dictated by someone outside of you.

Now if you ask yourself, "Am I an independent person?", you can answer it in your own way. In the way you make choices, in the way you decide. This will tell you whether you are really independent. Pag hindi n'yo kayang mag-decide na mag-isa para sa isang tamang bagay, ibig sabihin, hindi kayo malaya. Ang isang kalayaan ay hindi lamang kaya mong gawin ang mga bagay na gusto mong gawin, kundi ay kaya mong gawin ang tama, ayon sa kautusan, ayon sa batas, dahil walang sinumang nagdidikta sa iyo.

The difference, my brothers and sisters, is that some people tend to believe that they are independent. The moment you gain independence from the external, there is clear indication that you are not really independent. Kapag sinabing ikaw ay malaya, ang tanong do'n eh, 'sino po ang may sabing ako ay malaya'?

Ito ang magandang halimbawa. Minsan, dinala ko 'yong mga seminarista diyan po sa Mandaluyong, ano po. Dati ang tawag diyan ay mental hospital. Pinapasyal ko do'n ang mga seminarista para malaman namin kung sino sa amin ang mga may sayad, ano po (laughs) at sino ang may kakilala doon. At habang naglalakad kami nang ganyan, pinapaliwanag ng doktor kung ano ang mga sakit ng mga pasyente, habang ang mga seminarista ay nag-aayos pagkatapos ng aming pamamasyal, ipinasyal po ako ng doktor doon sa mga lugar na hindi pwedeng pasyalan. Bakit? Delikado. Ito ay kung saan ang mga pasyente ay nakakulong kasi violente.

At habang kami po ay naglalakad, 'yong isa pong nakakulong doon sabi niya, "Psst." Alam n'yo naman po tayong mga Pilipino, lumilingon kapag may sumutsot sa atin, ano po. Sabi po ng pasyente sa amin, "Bakit kayong dalawa nakakulong?" (laughs) Ako naman eh nag-isip ano. Ito naman pong doktor na kasama ko, maybe it is a habit, ang sabi'y, "Bakit mo naman nasabing kami'y nakakulong?" Ang sabi ng pasyente, "Eh kasi nasa likod kayo ng rehas."

Di ko naisip - kasi ang pagitan nga naman naming dalawa ay rehas lang, di po ba? Rehas lang. It dawned on me - what really makes you free? Does it mean that if you are given a place to move around, you are free? Maganda pong pagtuunan ng pansin 'yon. Maaaring ang pasyente po ay nasa isang silid, siya po ay namamakuran, meron po siyang rehas at pintuan, ako naman ay malayang naglalakad, pero ang kanyang tanong ay 'bakit kaming dalawa ay nakakulong'. Magandang tanong 'yon eh.

Marahil tayo ay naglalakad, napakalawak. Pero marami sa atin ang nakakulong. We are not free. From what? I do not know. You might not be free from the sin that has been haunting you. You might not be free from the wounds of the past. You might not be free from anything. It's good to ask yourself - are you really free?

Mga minamahal kong mga kapatid, ang palatandaan ng pagiging malaya, ay hindi sa lawak ng lugar na pwedeng lakaran. Kung hindi mo kayang mag-decide nang mag-isa, ibig sabihin, hindi ka malaya. Kung ikaw ay hindi makalabas ng bahay nang wala ang cellphone mo (laughs), hindi ka malaya. Nakalulungkot, ikaw ang bumili ng iyong cellphone, pero ikaw ang alipin ng iyong binili. Kung ikaw ay kumikilos ayon sa sasabihin ng iba, maliwanag na hindi ka malaya. Kung ikaw ay gumagawa ng tama dala ng iyong pagkatakot, ibig sabihin hindi ka malaya. Ang tunay na palatandaan ng malaya ay ginagawa ang tama kahit na siya ay nag-iisa, kahit siya ay tinutuligsa, at kahit walang naniniwala sa kanya. We need to be independent so that we can live in the world around us, interdependently. Look at the dynamics - dependent, independent, interdependent. What is important is for you to reach the level of independence, because if you do not reach the level of independence, you will end up living with others as co-dependent, which means you don't have the capacity to live freely by yourself. Hindi n'yo kayang mag-decide. Alam na alam po n'yo 'yan.

Subukan n'yo kung gaano kayo kalaya. Sa inyong pamilya, sasabihin ninyo, ngayon ay Independence Day, holiday, kayo ay kumain sa labas. Ang tanong - saan? Kahit saan. Kailan? Kahit kailan. Ano'ng kakainin natin? Kahit ano. (laughs) Sino'ng kasama natin? Kahit sino. Hindi po nito ibig sabihin na malaya kayo. Ibig sabihin no'n, wala kayong sariling isip. (laughs) Eh kung baligtarin naman natin. Sasabihin ninyo, tayo'y lumabas ngayon. Ang sasabihin ng inyong pamilya, huwag ngayon. Tayo'y pumunta sa Greenbelt. Huwag diyan. Doon tayo kumain sa McDonald's. Huwag diyan. Kasama natin sila Tito. Huwag sila. 'Yan, mga minamahal ng kapatid, ang palatandaan ng mga taong hindi malaya.....

Gospel Reflection

June 11, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

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

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

Reading 1 Acts 11:21b-26; 12:1-3

In those days 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.

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.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Gospel Mt 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

HOMILY

Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat.

Kapag walang asin o kapag walang alat ang ating pagkain, parang walang buhay ang pagkain. Kapag walang ilaw, parang wala ring buhay ang paligid. And that's why whenever we eat, we make sure that there is condiment with us. Either we have salt, or fish sauce, or whatever sauce, kasi 'yon ang nagbibigay ng buhay o lasa sa ating pagkain, Kapag brown-out parang lahat ay down. But notice - pag bumalik ang ilaw, ano ang reaksiyon ng mga tao? Nagsisigawan tayo, na para bang may dumating na Mesias (laughs). Lahat ng mga tao ay masaya, everyone is rejoicing.

That is what Saul has been trying to do - giving life, giving light, and giving vibrancy. And that is the image that Jesus used to describe an apostle and a follower of the Lord. "You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world."

And it is very fitting that we are celebrating today the feast of St. Barnabas. We heard in the introduction that his real name was Joseph, but he was given a new name - Barnabas. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng Barnabas? It means 'son of encouragement'. Why? Kasi si Barnabas ay punong-puno ng buhay. Everywhere he would go, people around him are perked up and given life with his presence. Siguro 'yong personality niya ay talagang very vibrant, na kapag dumating siya, lahat ng mga tao ay sumasaya.

Maraming mga tao na pag dumating, hindi tayo sumasaya, ano. Nalulungkot tayo. Kasi may mga taong napaka-'nega' ng dating. (laughs) 'Yon bang very sarcastic. Parang si Mr. Assimo. Kilala ba n'yo si Mr. Assimo? (mixed reaction from the congregation) Hindi kayo nanonood ng TV show na 'Bubble Gang'? O 'yong mga natawa diyan nanonood sila ng 'Bubble Gang'.

Itong si Mr. Assimo, siya ay isang character sa 'Bubble Gang', na kapag tinanong mo, even the simplest question is treated negatively. I remember one scene, si Mr. Assimo ay pumasok sa isang department store, doon siya sa mga T-shirt. And then sabi noong nagbabantay. "Ah, good morning, Sir. Bibili po kayo ng T-shirt?" Sarcastically, Mr. Assimo will say, "Ay hindi, hindi ako bibili ng T-shirt. Bibili ako ng appliances. Ang ganda ng mga appliances n'yo dito, mukhang T-shirt." (laughs) Then tinanong siya uli, "Para ho ba sa inyo?" "Ay hindi para sa 'kin, para sa iyo. Ikaw ang bibilhan ko ng T-shirt, kasi naaawa na 'ko sa 'yo." Ganyan ang mga taong very negative, eh. Na kahit ang inosenteng tanong, parang binibigyan ng masamang connotation. Sabi ng nagbabantay, "Ay, Sir, dito po may mas malalaking sizes." And then Mr. Assimo says, "Mas malalaking sizes? Ah, ganoon? Ang tingin mo sa 'kin mataba? Hinuhusgahan mo 'ko na napakataba ko o ako'y mukhang comforter?" (laughs) Ganyan ang mga 'negang' tao eh. They do not bring life and vibrancy. They bring the opposite instead.

Pero ano ang sinasabi ng Ebanghelyo sa atin? And what is the message that the feast of St. Barnabas is giving us? As Christians and as followers of the Lord, we are asked to bring life and vibrancy to the world. We should invite the virtue of faith, and not fear. Alam po ninyo, maraming tao ngayon, napapansin ko, they make it a point that whenever they wake up in the morning, the first thing that they do is they make a declaration of faith. Nauuso na ngayon 'yan. Halimbawa, 'yong mga uma-attend sa inyo ng The Feast ni Bo Sanchez sa PICC. Every morning, those who attend the Feast make a faith declaration. Na para bang sinasabing, 'Today, I wake up, and I open myself to the unboundless, limitless blessings of God.' They make that faith declaration. Marami sa atin, pagkagising sa umaga ang ginagawa ay 'fear declaration'. 'Yong paggising mo pa lang sa umaga, sasabihin mo na, "Naku Lord, baka hindi mangyari ang gusto ko. Naku, Lord, parang may bad feel itong araw na ito." What do we do? We invite negative vibes in our lives, instead of inviting positive vibes. To be like Barnabas - to be salt and light of the world - we should be men and women of faith, and not of fear.
I have received a beautiful text message. Ang sabi doon - "When fear knocks at your door, let faith answer the door." Maganda ano. Pag ang takot daw ang kumatok sa ating pintuan, pananampalataya ang dapat magbukas ng pinto. When fears knocks at your door, who answers your door? Baka si Mr. Assimo. (laughs) Kung si Mr. Assimo ang magbubukas ng pinto ninyo, naku lahat ng kamalasan, lahat ng negative energy, papasok. But when faith answers the door, all the negativity will be shut away, and only the blessings of God will be invited in. That is what it means when we become salt of the earth and light of the world. That we become like Barnabas to one another.

In this Holy Mass, let it be the grace that we will ask from the Lord - that we may be men and women of encouragement. Let us encourage ourselves, let us encourage one another. When fear knocks at our door, let us allow faith to answer it, and drive away fear in our lives. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

June 10, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Prudencio 'Jun' T. Solomon, Jr., Parochial Vicar, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Sampaloc, Manila

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

Reading 1 2 Cor1:1-7

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the Church of God that is at Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow. If we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; if we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel Mt 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

HOMILY

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, narinig natin ngayon sa ating Ebanghelyo ang sermon ni Hesus sa bundok, na mas kilala sa tawag na Beatitudes. Kung titingnan po nating mabuti, hindi po madaling gawin, hindi po madaling isabuhay ang mga ito. Minsan ay isang palaisipan ang mga pananalitang ito ni Hesus.

Papaanong tinawag na mapapalad ang mga aba? Paanong tinawag na mapapalad ang mga nagugutom, ang mga umiiyak, ang mga nanghihina, ang mga inuusig? Papaanong ang bansag sa kanila ay mapalad? Tunay nga ba silang mapalad, o baka naman ito'y isang uri lang ng panunuya sa kanilang abang kalagayan?

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, tignan natin ang sitwasyon ng mga taong ito. Sila, sa kabila ng kanilang mga tiisin, sa kabila ng mga pag-uusig sa kanila, sa kabila ng mga natatanggap nilang pasakit sa lipunan, nakikitaan sila ng pagkabig sa kung ano ang tama, totoo at matuwid, ayon sa kanilang Diyos. Kahit na ganoon ang kanilang nararanasan, patuloy pa rin silang nananatiling tapat sa pamamaraan ng Diyos. At yan ang kadahilanan kung bakit sila ay mapapalad. Sa kanilang pananatiling tapat, at pagkabig sa tama, totoo at matuwid, ang Diyos ang kanilang pabuya. Ang Diyos ang kanilang gantimpala. Sila'y mapapalad sapagkat sumasa-kanila ang Diyos.

Mga ginigilw kong mga kapatid, tayo rin ay inaanyayahan na maging bahagi ng kalipunan ng mga mapapalad. Kung tayo'y katulad ng mga binanggit sa ating Ebanghelyo, tayo ay mananatili na nakakapit sa kung ano ang tama, totoo at matuwid, sa mata ng Poong Maykapal. Tayo rin ay tinatawagan na makabilang sa mga mapapalad, kung tayo'y patuloy na kakapit sa pagmamahal ng Diyos.