Gospel Reflection

July 23, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari

(Assistant Commissioner for Office Administration, Commission on Liturgy & Minister, Ministry on Liturgical Environment and Art, Archdiocese of Manila)
5:30PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

 

Reading 1 Ex 14:21—15:1

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land. When the water was thus divided, the children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.

The Egyptians followed in pursuit; all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. In the night watch just before dawn the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly drive. With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel, because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.

Then the LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their charioteers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea, when the LORD hurled them into its midst. As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army that had followed the children of Israel into the sea. Not a single one of them escaped. But the children of Israel had marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and beheld the great power that the LORD had shown against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD:

I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

Responsorial Psalm Ex 15:8-9, 10 and 12, 17

R. (1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
At the breath of your anger the waters piled up,
the flowing waters stood like a mound,
the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea.
The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them;
I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them;
I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!”
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
When your wind blew, the sea covered them;
like lead they sank in the mighty waters.
When you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them!
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O LORD,
the sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands established.
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

Gospel Mt 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

HOMILY

The word 'family' is loaded with meaning. It is pregnant in meaning, ideas, images, hopes, and sometimes, even regrets. That is why if we look at our Gospel for today, it is good to ask - 'What is your picture of 'family'? When you mention the word 'family', ano ang ating naiisip? How would you describe your family?

They say that it is in our family where our relationships are established. It is because it is in the family that a person feels a sense of belonging. The Jews value their family. Whenever the Jews introduce themselves, they always use genealogy - kung saan sila nagmulang angkan, ang pinagmulan nilang pamilya. Hindi ito pag-aaksaya ng panahon kundi pinapakita doon na sa bawat pamilya, nararamdaman 'yong sense of identity and belonging. Sabi nga nila, para makilala mo ang isang tao, tingnan mo ang kanyang pamilya at pinagmulan o pinanggalingan. Sapagkat sa isang banda, tayong lahat ay produkto ng ating pamilya.

You know, in the Bible, the family is very important. Kaya nga noong si Cain ay pinarusahan ng Panginoon, na siya ay magiging restless wanderer, sabi ni Cain sa Panginoon, "My punishment is more than I can bear." It is very difficult. Why? Because Cain has to leave his family behind and be on his own. Siya ay mag-iisa sa buhay niya. When the Lord called Abraham to leave his family, to lead the people to the promised land, it shows the abandonment of Abraham. Mahirap 'yon, kasi iiwanan niya ang kanyang kinalakihan. 'Yong kanyang sense of security ay mawawala. 'Yong mga taong kilalang-kilala na niya ay kanyang tatalikdan. That is why we call Abraham the 'father of faith', because he gave up so much in his desire to follow the Lord.

Kaya ang pamilya ay napakahalaga sa bawat tao. They say the family gives three things to a person. And what are those? First is the sense of inclusion, belongingness. Second is security in life. Kaya nga sabi nila, kahit na ikaw ay pagod, kapag umuwi ka sa iyong pamilya, makakaramdam ka ng kapayapaan. That's why we call it 'tahanan', na kung saan naroroon ang pagtahan, ang kapayapaan. The third one is spiritual continuity, kung saan ang tao ay hinuhubog sa kanyang ugnayan sa Panginoon. That is why the family is also called the domestic church. Sa pamilya natin unang nakikilala ang Panginoon.

In our Gospel, the people were telling Jesus that His family is looking for Him. Nandiyan sila, gusto nilang kausapin si Hesus. Siguro kailangang ating tignan, ano. In the Gospel, Jesus is not appearing rude to His family. Hindi Siya bastos. Ngunit ano ang sinasabi diyan? Binibigyan ni Hesus ng bagong kahulugan ang salitang 'pamilya'. Kaya ano ang makikita natin sa ating Gospel?

For Jesus, there are three foundations of a family. And what are those?

First is common ideal. In the Gospel, Jesus pointed out to His disciples that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is His family. The disciples have their own attitude, their own idiosyncrasies, their own temperament. Ang sabi nga ng mga Bible scholars, kung sila-sila lang, sila ay mag-aaway-away at pwedeng magpatayan. But the disciples are bonded because they wanted to follow Jesus. That is the first reminder to us. Saan mang pamilya, anumang lugar, anumang organisasyon o simbahan, dapat naroroon 'yong common ideal which will unify the community. Pag nawala na 'yong common ideal, kanya-kanya na 'yan. Sa ating lipunan, ipanalangin natin na 'yong common ideal ng bawat pamilya, ng bawat simbahan at bawat pamayanan, ay walang iba kundi ang masundan si Kristo.

The second one is common experience. Minsan may mga pagkakataon na mas kilala ka pa ng ibang tao kaysa sa sarili mong pamilya. Noong isang araw nga, kausap ko ang isa kong kaibigan, ang sabi niya sa akin 'yong Tatay niya, noong siya ay nasa highschool, talagang napakahigpit. Kaya close na close daw siya sa kanyang mga kaklase, kaysa sa Tatay niya, kaya mas marami pang alam ang mga kaklase niya tungkol sa kanya, kaysa sa kanyang sariling Tatay. Kaya kapag sila raw ay nagre-reunion, 'yon ang kanilang palaging binabalikan, that common experience.

Siguro ito ang ikalawang hamon sa atin. When we look at Jesus's disciples, ang kanilang ipinapangaral ay hindi lamang 'yong itinuro sa kanila ni Kristo, kundi ibinabahagi din nila sa mga tao ang kanilang common experience with Christ. Kailan sila kumain kasama ni Kristo. Kailan sila nagpagaling ng mga maysakit kasama si Kristo. Ang common experience ang ating panghahawakan sa buhay. A while ago, I was talking to a contractor in our seminary, who is a father of a family. Sabi niya, kapag Linggo daw ay busy siya. Kasi daw tuwing umaga - siya ay taga-Cavite - siya ay tumutulong sa pagbibigay ng Holy Communion sa mga nagsisimba at sa mga malalayong lugar. And then in the afternoon, he also serves as a lector in their parish. Kaya kinausap niya ang kanyang pamilya at sinabi niya sa kanila na dahil sa araw ng Linggo ay medyo abala siya, 'yong Sabado ang kanilang gagawing family bonding day. Sinabi niya sa akin na kailangan talagang maglaan ka ng panahon para makasama mo ang pamilya mo, kung ito ay mahalaga para sa iyo. Noong isang araw po ay nagpunta ako sa isang lamay sa isang parokya sa Navotas. Namatay 'yong Tatay ng isa kong kaibigan doon. I know the whole family. The daughter told me that she will miss the times when she and her father will have breakfast together, and spend quality time with each other. That is common. experience that binds us together. And it is a good reminder for us. In spite of our busy lives, what our family will remember is not whatever material things we have given to them, but how, through us, they have experienced quality bonding moments, how they experienced love and joy. Mawawala ang maraming bagay, kayamanan, katalinuhan, pero ang maa-alala ng ating pamilya at mahal sa buhay ay ang mga magagandang karanasan na iiwanan natin sa kanila.

The third one is common obedience. In the Gospel, Jesus says that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is His brother, His sister and mother. Ito ay paala-ala sa mga Hudyo noong mga panahong iyon. Why? It is because the Jews always take pride in saying that they are the children of Abraham. At dahil si Abraham ang kanilang ama, mayroon silang kaligtasan. Pero ang sinasabi ni Hesus, hindi lahat ng tumatawag ng 'Panginoon, Panginoon' ay maliligtas. It is not just saying, but doing. If we are willing to do the will of God, we are united with God's family. Sa isang pamilya, kung ang bawat isa ay handang sumunod sa kautusan ng Diyos at sa kautusan sa pamilya, magkakaroon ng ayos, nang magandang ugnayan, ng tagumpay ang pangarap ng mga magulang para sa kanilang mga anak.

We cannot choose our family. When we remember our family, do we see it as a blessing from God or do we sometimes feel that we are stuck with our own family? Jesus is reminding us of these three things, to consider that our family is real and encouraging - common ideal, common experience, and common obedience.

Gospel Reflection

July 22, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene

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 Ex 14:5-18

When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants changed their minds about them. They exclaimed, “What have we done! Why, we have released Israel from our service!” So Pharaoh made his chariots ready and mustered his soldiersB six hundred first-class chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt, with warriors on them all. So obstinate had the LORD made Pharaoh that he pursued the children of Israel even while they were marching away in triumph. The Egyptians, then, pursued them; Pharaoh’s whole army, his horses, chariots and charioteers, caught up with them as they lay encamped by the sea, at Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

Pharaoh was already near when the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the LORD. And they complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians’? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” But Moses answered the people, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The LORD himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still.”

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the children of Israel may pass through it on dry land. But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate that they will go in after them. Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots and charioteers. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers.”

Responsorial Psalm Ex 15:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
He is my God, I praise him;
the God of my father, I extol him.
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
The LORD is a warrior,
LORD is his name!
Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the sea;
the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea.
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
The flood waters covered them,
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O LORD, magnificent in power,
your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

Gospel Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.

HOMILY

Sa araw na ito ay ipinagdiriwang natin ang ala-ala ni Maria Magdalena. At ano ang dapat nating malaman o mabatid tungkol sa kanya? Narinig natin sa Paunang Salita na siya ay galing sa isang bayan na ang pangalan ay Magdala, kaya Magdalena. Ito ay isa sa mga bayan sa dalampasigan ng Galilea.

'Yong ibang tao, iisiping siya 'yong babaeng makasalanan na nagpunas o naglagay ng olyo sa paa ni Hesus, pero hindi siya 'yon. 'Yong iba, ang aakalain ay siya daw ang kapatid ni Martha. Pero hindi ito totoo. Narinig natin na sa kanya ay tinaboy ni Hesus ang pitong demonyo, at siya rin ay sumunod kay Hesus hanggang sa paanan ng Krus, at hanggang sa Kanyang pagkalibing.

Ano ang isang bagay na mababatid pa natin sa kanya? Isang bagay lang ang tiyak. Hanggang kamatayan, hanggang sa libingan, si Maria Magdalena ay patuloy na nagmahal sa Panginoon. This is what is certain - that she is someone who loved Jesus deeply. At ito ay ating narinig at natunghayan sa ating Ebanghelyo, kung saan hinahanap niya ang nawawalang katawan ng yumaong si Hesus. Siya'y labis na nagmahal. At kung tutuusin, this is all that matters.

There was once a philosopher who told, "Immature love says 'I love you, because I need you'. But mature love would say, 'I need you, because I love you'." Mga kapatid, si Maria Magdalena, kinailangan niya ang Panginoon, bunsod ng pagmamahal. Sapagkat minahal siya ni Hesus, nang Kanyang itaboy ang pitong demonyo. Kailangan niya ang Panginoon dahil sa pagmamahal. At hindi siya katulad ng iba, na nagmamahal lamang sapagkat may kailangan.

Tayo - papaano tayo magmahal? Papaano tayo umibig sa kapwa at sa Diyos? Nagmamahal ba tayo sapagkat may kailangan tayo, o baka naman kailangan natin sila, dahil na rin sa gusto natin silang mahalin, at dahil sa pagmamahal na inuukol nila sa atin?

How do we love? How do we show our love, especially for Jesus?

Gospel Reflection

July 21, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Rufino "Jun" C. Sescon, Jr. - Chaplain, Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel (Greenbelt Chapel), Makati
6:00PM Sunday Mass at Sto. Nino de Paz Chapel, (Greenbelt Chapel) Makati

 

Reading 1 Gn 18:1-10a

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot.  Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.  When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: “Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant.  Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree.  Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.”  The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.”

Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.”  He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.  Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before the three men; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?” He replied, “There in the tent.”  One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

R. (1a) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Reading 2 Col 1:24-28

Brothers and sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.  It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Gospel Lk 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village  where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.  Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?  Tell her to help me.”  The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

HOMILY

At first glance, you would notice that our readings speak of hospitality, of which we, Filipinos, are very famous for - our warm hospitality, our warm welcome. And if there is any incentive, hospitable people are always blessed by the Lord.

Even in Christian literature, you will encounter that. Noong mga bata tayo, di po ba binabasa sa atin ang fairy tale ng mga ermitanyo, mga hari, na kunwari ay mga pulubi, kunwari ay mga ketongin, kunwari ay mga sakitin at kakatok sa bahay, and if we accept them, if we welcome them, then we are blessed. And we remember Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew saying, "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to Me." And, of course, there is the very famous story of St. Martin of Tours, the general who eventually became a bishop and then a saint, who encountered a beggar on the road shivering from the cold. St. Martin cut his cloak into half and gave it to the beggar. And when he went to the church in prayer, he saw Christ wearing the cloak that he gave to the beggar. Even in the monastic tradition, in the rule of St. Benedict, it is reminded of the monks to welcome a stranger, and you welcome Christ.

We all know the story of today's Gospel on Martha and Mary. Si Martha daw po 'yong abalang abala sa kusina, samantalang si Mary ay nakaupo lang sa paanan ni Jesus, nakikinig. And we all know what happened - Martha complained, and Jesus said Mary chose the better part.

Today, we ask ourselves - what did Jesus mean when He said 'Mary chose the better part'? What is the better part? Baka sabihin ng iba, 'Yon pala Father eh, mas ok lang 'yong nakatunganga, umupo na lang at walang gawin, kasi si Martha, ang daming ginagawa, pero sabi ni Jesus, she did not choose the better part'. Jesus is not advocating passivity or laziness. Hindi po sinasabi ni Jesus na huwag na tayong magtrabaho, huwag na tayong mag-asikaso. But what did Jesus mean?

Actually, both Martha and Mary did the good thing. Doing the chores, listening to the Lord, are both ways of serving the Lord. There are times when we have to listen. There are times we don't have to do anything. On the other hand, there are times when we must be very active, when we must be very involved. But what was the difference? Why did Mary choose the better part according to Jesus?

The problem with Martha was that her choice led her to anxiously worry about herself. But Mary's choice led her to listening peacefully, and being closer to Jesus. Alam nating tama ang ginawa ni Mary at ni Martha. Pero 'yong resulta, doon sila nagkaiba. Pansinin ninyo si Martha - abalang abala siya, at bandang huli, alalang alala siya. Mary was also busy - busy listening to Jesus. But in the end, she found peace, she found the presence of the Lord. Martha's choice led her to self-concern and worry, while Mary led her to Christ's peace and presence. Both options had the potential for leading them closer to Jesus. The problem with Martha was that her worry drowned her and her service to the Lord.

Worry - pag-aalala. 'Yan ang numero unong kalaban ng isang Kristiyano. At hindi lang po 'yan spiritual. Ang tao ho ay nag-aalala lagi. Syempre lagi siyang ninenerbiyos. At kung lagi siyang ninenerbiyos, tumataas tuloy ang blood pressure. At dahil din po ninenerbiyos, hindi makatulog, hindi makakain. Kaya nagkakasakit sa puso. Worrying is not good for our health. Martha did the right thing already, but the problem was she got worried in return. Nag-aalala siya sa oras.

Nakatagpo na po ba kayo ng tao na wala nang ginawa kundi mag-alala? Lagi na lang ninenerbiyos. Merong kwento ng mag-asawa. Meron silang anak - first time nilang magka-anak, tuwang tuwa sila. Pero pag gabi, laging nag-aalala si misis. Konting iyak lang ng bata, bumabangon na siya, as if something bad might happen to the child. And that became a source of sleeplessness for the couple. So they consulted a doctor. "Doc, anong gagawin namin? Laging umiiyak sa gabi ang aming baby, nag-aalala kami." Sabi ng doctor, "Sige, ibigay n'yo itong gatas na ito. Sigurado, makakatulog siya nang mahimbing." And so the couple said, "For the first time, makakatulog na tayo nang walang patid." So, pinainom nila ng gatas si baby, nakatulog nga siya nang mahimbing, at nakatulog na ang mag-asawa. But at midnight, the wife was waking up the husband, "Gumising ka, gumising ka." Sabi ng lalaki, "Bakit mo ako ginising? Hindi naman umiiyak 'yong bata, eh." And the wife said, "Tingnan mo nga eh. Hindi nga umiiyak ang bata, baka may nangyari." (laughs) Umiyak at hindi umiyak, nag-aalala pa rin.

May mga taong ganoon. Hindi pa rin mapanuto. Kaya minsan 'yong mga bata, sumagot o hindi sumagot, pagagalitan pa rin. Ano ba talaga ang gagawin? May mga taong napaparalisa, dahil sa sobrang pag-aalala sa buhay. Minsan kaming mga pari din, minsan hindi namin po alam kung saan namin ilalagay ang sarili namin. Naalala ko ho 'yong isang pari po, inigsian niya ang Homily niya. After the mass, may lumapit sa kanya, ang sabi, "Father, may sakit ba kayo? Bakit maigsi ang misa ninyo?" Noong ginanahan naman siya isang beses, humaba nang konti ang misa, lumampas nang 10 minutes sa 1 hour, may lumapit sa kanya sa sacristy, "Father, bakit ang haba ng misa ninyo?" Sabi ng pari, "Ano ba talaga ang gusto n'yo? Maigsi o hindi ang misa, nag-aalala." Hindi tayo mapanuto.

And that is the problem with Martha. Martha's body was paralyzed by worry. But you know, there is another effect of worry. Did you know that worry also affects our vision? Ang tao raw na maaalahanin, na-aapektuhan pati pagtingin. Bakit daw? Let's go back to Martha in the Gospel. She told Jesus, "Lord, look at my sister. She has left me by myself to do all the work." Naghihiwa siya, nagluluto siya, pero nakatingin siya kay Mary. At ano'ng sabi niya kay Jesus, 'Iniwan ako nitong kapatid ko'. But did Mary really leave Martha? The problem with Martha was that she was too worried and stressed out, it affected her vision. It prevented her from seeing anything other than herself and her situation. Ang tao raw na punong-puno ng alalahanin, ang taong stressed na stressed dahil laging nag-aalala, ang lagi lang nakikita ay ang sarili niya. Hindi niya talaga nakikita ang ibang tao. Kaya tingnan n'yo po 'yong litanya ni Martha. Lord, iniwan na ako ng kapatid ko. Pinabayaan na niya ako. Hindi na niya ako tinutulungan.

There have been times when we felt as if we are the only ones doing the work. Nararamdaman n'yo ho ba 'yon? Nagdarasal tayo minsan, 'Lord, parang ako lang ang nagtatrabaho. Parang ako lang ang nagmamalasakit sa kumpanyang ito. Parang ako lang ang gumagawa ng lahat'. May mga taong punong-puno ng drama sa buhay, laging gano'n ang litanya nila. 'Ako na lang ba ang may malasakit sa bahay na ito? Ako na lang ba ang gagawa at magtatrabaho?' There is so much worry, as if we are the only ones doing everything. We end up feeling unappreciated and alone. Our worries can strain the best relationships, and can ruin the warmest fellowships.

And our worries do not only dampen our social circle. Eventually, our relationship with God gets affected. 'Yong tao raw na punong-puno nang alala, hindi lang masisira ang relationship niya sa kapwa niya, sa pamilya niya, sa mga kaibigan niya. Eventually, his or her relationship with God will get affected. Again, let's go back to Martha. Ano'ng sabi ni Martha, "Lord, do You not care anymore?" In other words, 'Lord, hindi Mo na ba ako mahal?' It is not really a question. It is already an accusation by Martha. The worry of the moment ruined Martha's bond with Jesus. She is now questioning the Lord's love for her. 'Lord, don't You know what I am going through? Lord, don't You care that I'm the only one working, that no one is helping me? Lord, hindi Mo na ba ako mahal?'

Dumarating ba sa punto na gano'n na ang dasal natin, gano'n na ang tanong natin sa Diyos? Pag gano'n na po ang tono ng dasal natin, ingat po. Baka sobra na kayong nag-aalala sa buhay. Pati ang pagmamahal ng Diyos, pinagdududahan natin. Pati ang pagkalinga ng Diyos sa atin, inaalala na natin. I'm sure Jesus was smiling, as Martha was saying those words - 'Lord, don't You care for me anymore? I am doing this for You. And this is what I get in return?' If we are not careful, we can begin to resent the ones we really love.

Mary chose the better part, because what she was doing led her closer to Jesus. Martha's choice led her more to herself, toward stress, to her misgivings, to her suspicions, to her doubts. Do you know the Old English word for 'worry'? It is 'to choke', 'to strangle'. Sinasakal dahil ang taong panay na nag-aalala, unti-unting nawawalan ng buhay. Unti-unting nawawalan ng koneksiyon. Koneksiyon sa kapwa, koneksiyon sa sarili, at higit sa lahat, koneksiyon sa Diyos.

Sometimes, we do a lot of good things. We serve the church, we help the poor, we support our family, we do a lot of civil and social work, we are very active in the office, we are so involved in many activities. But let us ask ourselves. Where are we heading at? Marami nga tayong magandang ginagawa - mabuting ginagawa - pero kung katulad ni Martha, sa bandang huli, ang mabubuting ginagawang ito ang nagpapa-alala sa atin, baka magandang tanungin natin ang sarili natin. Are we choosing really the better part? We are looking for so many things. We want to be happy. We want to be good. But the question is - are we trusting enough? Are we trusting enough, especially in the Lord?

I am sure right now, some of us are joining the world in shock on the death of Cory Monteith. Kilala n'yo po ba si Cory Monteith? Kung hindi po ninyo siya kilala, ay kami lang pong mga kabataan ang nakakakilala sa kanya. (laughs) Cory Monteith is the actor who starred in the musical TV series 'Glee'. Siguro sasabihin n'yo, 'Kung kasing guwapo lang niya ako, kung kasing ganda lang niya 'kong kumanta, kung kasing sikat lang niya 'ko...' Pero bakit siya namatay? Bakit siya na-overdose? He is a picture of a man trying to do good, but a man also worrying a lot. A man perhaps enjoying what the world has to offer, but a man also asking, "Lord, do You really care for me?" Siguro sabi n'yo, 'kung ako lang 'yon, baka iba ang nangyari'. I don't think so. Because like Martha, we can be doing good, but if we are not careful, our worries, our doubts, our anxieties, our suspicions, may drown us. Let us make sure that we are doing something good, but more importantly, let us make sure we are doing something better like Mary.

As Christians, there will be times we will be called to sit at Christ's feet and listen to Him. May mga pagkakataong kailangan nating makinig. May mga pagkakataong kailangan nating gumalaw. Pero sa lahat ng pagkakataon, kailangan nating lumapit sa Diyos.

Where are you heading at? What do you really want in life? Have you chosen the better part? Amen.