Gospel Reflection

August 29, 2013

Thursday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

by Rev. Fr. Ray Victor Pascual, LRMS (Spiritual and Apostolate Director, Lorenzo Mission Institute)
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 1 Thes 3:7-13

We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters, in our every distress and affliction, through your faith. For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you, for all the joy we feel on your account before our God? Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith. Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts,  to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm PS 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17

R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

Gospel Mk 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias,  the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

HOMILY

Today's feast is an unusual feast. Actually, the original name of the feast is the 'beheading of John the Baptist'. Ang pagpugot sa ulo ni Juan Bautista. The feast has been renamed today as the Passion of Saint John the Baptist - the martyrdom of John the Baptist. Why does the Church celebrate this unusual feast? It is because the Church wants us to realize how costly it is to follow Jesus. It cost the head of John the Baptist to follow Jesus. John stood for the truth until his last breath, and this is the reason why he was beheaded.

First, John was called to preach repentance and conversion to sinners, including Herod. That is why Herod could not kill John because he respects what John is telling him, even if it hurt him. Herod is like some people, too. They only like to listen to eloquent speakers and read inspiring books, but they do not want to follow what the speaker or the book is telling them to do, because they do not want change.

Second, John the Baptist was called to preach and stand for the truth. There was a song many years ago by Billy Joel. To those of you who were born yesterday, you know who Billy Joel is. (laughs) He wrote the song titled 'Honesty'. The lyrics go like this - 'Honesty is such a lonely word, everyone is so untrue.' Brothers and sisters, this is happening in our society today. It seems that a lot of people do not anymore speak the truth. Honesty is such a lonely word; everyone is so untrue. The message of the song is telling us that we have an 'honesty crisis' - a true crisis. Just imagine the 10 billion peso scam in the government. People will always cover up and not tell the truth, because they are afraid that something will happen to them. At least Napoles surrendered; hopefully she will tell the truth of what she has done, and also ask those who connived with her to tell the truth. Herod knew the truth that John was telling him, yet he wanted to play deaf, because he was afraid to lose his reputation, his position, his power, and most of all, his money.

Third, the call is for John to offer his life for the Kingdom of God. This is our call. We have to give our lives for the sake of the Kingdom. This is what a true disciple of Jesus is all about - giving up one's life for the sake of the Kingdom. In the life of a disciple, he will always encounter people who do not like what he says, because the truth always hurts. But Jesus also shows us that when we accept the truth, the truth will set us free. Many saints and martyrs died because they stood for the truth.

I see a parallelism in the story of John the Baptist and in the life of Saint Thomas Moore during the time of King Henry VIII. King Henry VIII had a woman named Anne Boleyn. King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn, a young, beautiful woman. And he asked Thomas Moore, the Chancellor of England, who was second to him, to sign the document so that he can become King and Head of the Church of England. But Thomas Moore stood his ground. Even his own daughter and his own friends persuaded him to give up, yet, Saint Thomas Moore, instead of looking at his position as the second most powerful person in England at that time, stood his ground. He was beheaded.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus challenges us today to live out our baptismal promises , by sharing in His Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection. In other words, to live a life according to the truth, and like John the Baptist, be a true witness of Jesus, even if it will cost our own life.

Gospel Reflection

August 28, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

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

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

Reading 1 1 Thes 2:9-13

You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.

And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.

Responsorial Psalm PS 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab

R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall hide me,
and night shall be my light”–
For you darkness itself is not dark,
and night shines as the day.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

Gospel Mt 23:27-32

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous,  and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

HOMILY

As I said in the introduction of the Holy Mass, we celebrate today one of the more important saints in our Catholic liturgy. We celebrate today the feast of Saint Augustine. Actually, there are many things that we can learn from the life of Saint Augustine. But I would like to highlight three important things.

First is the importance of the prayer of parents. If you went to mass yesterday, you will discover that yesterday was the feast of Saint Monica. And who is Saint Monica? She is the mother of Saint Augustine. And according to the life of Saint Augustine, we know that from the early years of his life, he lived a life so far away from the Lord. Hindi naman siya ipinanganak na banal eh. He lived a very loose kind of life. But it was the prayer of his mother, Monica - na araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos ay nananalangin at lumuluha para sa kanyang anak - that became one of the determining factors, according to Augustine, of his own conversion. Kaya siguro ang mga magulang dito, siguro meron din sa inyong mayroong mga anak na katulad si San Agustin, do not lose heart. The prayer of a parent is something that is very powerful. So continue praying for our young children.

Second, there is the influence of St. Ambrose on Augustine. In one of the sermons of St. Ambrose at the Cathedral in Milan, Augustine happened to be listening. Kayong mga nakarating na doon sa Milan, there is a very big cathedral dedicated to St. Ambrose. And it was there that one time, when Ambrose was preaching, and Augustine happened to be at the back, he said that there was something that attracted him to the words of Ambrose. And it began Augustine's thirst for the Word of God.

Lastly, there is the importance of personal prayer in the life of Saint Augustine. His conversion transpired when one day, he was sitting in his balcony, and he saw a book - the Bible. And then he heard a voice saying 'Tolle lege.' It is Latin for 'Take up and read.' Augustine, then, opened the book, and it was the Sacred Scriptures. That began his path to conversion.

We can learn so many things in the life of Saint Augustine. And he wrote many things. But there is one particular verse that he wrote in his confession that I would like to read to you today. Kilalang kilala si Saint Augustine sa mga salitang ito, at ito ang kanyang sinabi. Ang sabi niya, "Late have I loved You, oh Beauty, ever ancient and ever new, late have I loved You. You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you." He was talking to God. He called God 'a beauty, ever ancient and ever new'. What is Saint Augustine saying here?

Meron pong kasabihan na 'you will never forget your first kiss'. Totoo po ba 'yon? Di kasi ako maka-relate. (laughs) Sabi nila, hindi mo raw makakalimutan ang iyong first kiss, kasi that is the first time that you felt loved. Saint Augustine also said that. You will never forget your first kiss. But the first kiss that he is referring to is not the romantic kiss. Saint Augustine is saying that our very first kiss is actually the kiss of the Lord - when God first created us. He kissed us in our soul. And that is why according to Augustine, there is a hunger in our soul that will never be quenched.

Augustine realized that our first kiss is nothing in this world, but it is outside of the world. That is why he said, "Late have I loved You, oh Beauty, ever ancient and ever new." God was inside of him, but Augustine was looking for God in the outside.

As a closing, let me relate to you one story that I read. There was a man and his child, and they were eating. While they were eating, the father noticed his child, dinidilaan 'yong fly swatter, 'yong pamatay ng langaw. Nakuha ng anak niya 'yong pamatay ng langaw at didilaan. Ano'ng gagawin ninyo kung kayo ang magulang? Syempre aalisin ninyo - you will get the fly swatter and replace it with a popsicle. And then the father told the child, 'Sige, 'yan ang dilaan mo nang dilaan'.

What is the story telling us? Minsan, kung tayo 'yong magulang, baka pinalo mo agad 'yong anak. Baka sinampal mo agad ang iyong anak, 'Bad 'yan, bad 'yan, dirty 'yan.' But what the story is telling us, is that the problem is not the desire. The problem is where you go to satisfy that desire. That child was looking for something. Kaya lang ano'ng nangyari? He saw the fly swatter, at doon niya gustong i-satisfy 'yong kanyang desire. Ano'ng ginawa ng Tatay? He replaced it with something that will truly satisfy the desire of the child.

Ganoon din ang itinuturo sa atin ni San Agustin. Sabi niya, all of us have this desire inside of our heart. Ang pagkakamali natin, we bring it to something less than God. Saint Augustine is telling us that the human heart is wired for God. The human heart is made for God. And it will only be satisfied, if we bring it to God. If we bring it to something less than God, what will happen? It will bring us to ruin. But if we bring our desire to something that is of God, then we will be truly satisfied. In the end, Saint Augustine says that our hearts are restless, until they rest in God.

In this mass, let us make it our own prayer. You have made us, oh, Lord, for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

August 27, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Monica

by Rev. Fr. Lloyd Tiu, Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society (LMI-Makati)
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 1 Thes 2:1-8

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our reception among you was not without effect. Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated, as you know, in Philippi, we drew courage through our God to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle. Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives, nor did it work through deception. But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please men, but rather God, who judges our hearts. Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed–God is witness– nor did we seek praise from men, either from you or from others, although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.

Responsorial Psalm PS 139:1-3, 4-6

R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

Gospel Mt 23:23-26

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

HOMILY

When Jesus preached in a community, usually, there will be some religious leaders who would be, let's say, listening to Him or watching Him. Oftentimes, they would ask questions to put down Jesus or to make a case against Him. Jesus' teaching of the Father and of dying to oneself is a threat to the Pharisees and the Scribes. That is why Jesus called them hypocrites.

Being a hypocrite is to be an actor or to pretend to be someone that you are not. In a play or a show, hypocrites will wear masks to denote or to show another kind of character or personality. We, too, sometimes wear this kind of mask. If we are true to ourselves, oftentimes, we can also call ourselves hypocrites. When we want to be with some people or to be allowed into a certain community, we would pretend to be someone or to know someone. It is because we are afraid that we will be rejected or not accepted.

My brothers and sisters, yesterday, thousands of people attended the 'A Million March' in Luneta to call for the abolishment of the pork barrel. If we want change in our country, we should first change ourselves. Corruption must stop within ourselves. More and more people practice corruption. For example, when we apply for a business, or when we are caught by a traffic aide, what do we say? "Baka naman pwede natin pag-usapan ito...Ito na lang o, para wala na akong resibo o wala na akong tiket." When we want something to be approved immediately, we would pass something 'under the table'. If we really want change, then we should change ourselves first.

Let us be true to ourselves. If we continue to pretend to be someone or something, it will be a burden to us, because all along, all the way, we have to cover our steps, we have to cover our tracks, in order to cover the lies that we have made. That is why the truth hurts. The hypocrites were threatened by Jesus, because He would tell them the truth.

My dear brothers and sisters, the invitation to us by the Gospel entails a dying to ourselves. It is an invitation for us to be true to ourselves, just like Jesus' being true to the Father, dying on the Cross, so that all of us will enter heaven. Let us clean ourselves first, before we call to clean our family, our community, our nation. The change should first come from us, not from others.

Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine, was married to a pagan. And Augustine, in almost half of his life, also lived like a pagan. But Saint Monica never ceased to pray for the conversion of her husband and her son. And eventually, just before she died, Augustine became a Christian.

We, too, should not lose hope for our country. If we want change, let us continue to pray for our leaders and for ourselves, and change from inside, out. Amen.