Gospel Reflection

September 07, 2013

First Saturday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev.  Fr. Matthieu Dauchez

Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

Reading 1 Col 1:21-23

Brothers and sisters: You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you in the fleshly Body of Christ through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him, provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.

Responsorial Psalm PS 54:3-4, 6 and 8

R. (6) God himself is my help.
O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
R. God himself is my help.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
R. God himself is my help.

Gospel Lk 6:1-5

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” Jesus said to them in reply,
“Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. This was the response of Jesus to show that what God does is always for the good of the people....always. And this is one of the greatest fights of Jesus in His life - to free the people from binding laws which do not reflect the image of the Lord as a loving God.

Our God is Lord of all, but for what? For love, of course, and only for love. Sometimes, we could not understand why God acts like this, but we must remember that our God is a God of love. And what He does is always for our own good - always. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

September 06, 2013

First Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Joseph “Joey” Faller (Spiritual Director of the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center, Lucban, Quezon Province)
12:15PM Mass at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 Col 1:15-20

Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the Body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Responsorial Psalm PS 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

R. (2b) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
For he is good,
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

Gospel Lk 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

HOMILY

I was away for 40 days. I came to visit the U.S., in California, San Francisco, L.A., then I went to Chicago, to New York, New Jersey, then to Boston, and came back again to San Francisco. It was a long, long marathon of healing masses. And to tell you honestly, all the masses that I celebrated was full of people. Habang tumatagal ay dumadami po ang mga tao. The average attendance is more than a thousand. Umuuwi po ako sa tinitirhan ko na kamag-anak at almost 2 o'clock in the morning, that is every day. At magigising po ako the next day, in the morning, may mga tao na po sa sala ng Tita ko, asking for prayers. My average sleep is 2 or 3 hours. It was not really vacation time for me.

Noong dumating naman po ako sa Pilipinas, gayon na rin po ang schedule ko. Sometimes, hindi po kaya lahat sa isang araw. Sabi ko po, kung ang isang araw ay may 30 hours, siguro makakayanan ko ang requests ng mga tao. Yesterday, three hospitals were awaiting me, but I had three masses, so I was not able to come to one of the hospitals. Kaya sabi ko, to tell you honestly, nakakapagod po itong ministry na ito, but it's very fulfilling. Ang mga tao po, walang ubos sa kahihiling. Hiling ng boyfriend (laughs), hiling ng asawa, hiling ng kagalingan, and so on and so forth. But I am happy doing my job, but still, I also need to rest. Sometimes, I really need to take time for myself, and with my God. Kaya sa mga darating pong oras, I will try my best to rest.

In our Holy Gospel for today, we heard the Scribes and Pharisees complaining. They said, "Why are Your disciples not fasting?" They are 'fast-eating' (laughs) or feasting? And the Lord said, "How can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?" What does the Lord mean? Well, nakakita na ba kayo ng kasalan na ang handa lang sa kasal ay kape at singkamas? (laughs) Isn't it that a wedding is really a celebration of joy, a celebration of life? So how can you mourn during that time? Kaya sinasabi ng Panginoon, to be with the Lord is to experience joy. Though we have problems, though we have debts, marami tayong utang na hindi mabayaran, though we have a lot of illnesses, marami tayong mga pinagdaraanan, if we believe that Jesus is with us, it can be a joyful experience.

May tatlong bagay po kung bakit nagfa-fasting ang mga Scribes and Pharisees. Number one is to mourn for somebody who died. Second, to pray for conversion and renewal, for reparation. And third, they fast to sustain the presence of God. Isa-isahin po natin ang reason. First is to mourn for the dead. Wala pa naman pong namamatay noon sa mga disipulo ni Hesus, at ang Panginoon naman po ay kasama nila. So, there is no need for mourning. Second, on renewing one's life, Jesus's disciples were already converted and renewed. And the third reason on sustaining the presence of God, Jesus is very much present with the disciples. Therefore, there is no need for fasting. There will come a time that they would fast, if Jesus is no longer with them. What the Lord is suggesting is, our religion is a religion of joy. Kaya tignan mo ang kasama mo at sabihing mong 'may pag-asa ka pa'....hindi ka pa mamamatay (laughs)....ngayon....bukas na lang (loud laughs).....biro lang po. Ours is a religion of joy.

The second lesson, which is the last point that I would like to share with you is this. Sabi ng Panginoon, hindi mo pwedeng isama ang lumang damit doon sa bagong damit. Masisira pareho. Gayun din naman, you do not put old wine on new wineskin, because the new wineskin will break. What is the Lord suggesting here? The Lord is telling us that if you have received the Lord, if you have received Jesus in your heart, you already have new life. Therefore, there should be no more turning back. There should be no more going back to the old life. There should be no more trying to enjoy a double life. If you are with Jesus, live a new life that Jesus has shared with you.

May the healing mass today inspire us to really walk in the life of Jesus Christ. As St. Paul says, let us put on a new man, a new mind, a new heart, patterned after Jesus Christ our Lord. May this healing mass inspire us to have new life and new hope. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

September 05, 2013

Thursday – 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)
5:30PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

Reading 1 Col 1:9-14

Brothers and sisters: From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

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

R. (2) The Lord has made known his salvation.
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 made known his salvation.
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 made known his salvation.
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 made known his salvation.

Gospel Lk 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.  They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

HOMILY

Maybe you can still remember that experience when your parents asked you to do something, and in the midst of your fear, you did it. Dahil takot na takot ka, dahil sabi ng Tatay mo, sabi ng Nanay mo, ginawa mo. Magandang example diyan 'yong swimming, ano? Sabi ng magulang mo, "Talon!" Takot na takot ka. Either nanlalamig ka o takot kang malunod. Pero tatalon ka rin. Naalala n'yo pa ba 'yon? What made you do it? And perhaps the simple answer that you would say is 'because I trust my parents'.

Trust. Now, looking at the Gospel, what do you think made Simon follow Jesus and move his boat a little deeper into the sea, after working all night long and catching no fish?

My dear friends, my dear brothers and sisters, it's good to ask ourselves. What gave people the authority to tell us what to do? Some of them is because they are in a position. If the policeman will tell you to stop, you will stop. If you go to the doctor or the dentist, and the dentist will ask you to open your mouth, you will open your mouth. Why? Because he is the dentist. It's authority founded on the position.

But Jesus is not a fisherman. He is a carpenter's son. How come a carpenter's son can tell a fisherman to lower their nets? It's not about position. The First Reading tells us that we can only have good works if we have a knowledge of God. There is no relationship without certain knowledge. There must be a certain level of knowledge, in order to have a certain level of trust.

Kung may nanliligaw sa inyo, sasagutin n'yo na ba kaagad? Hindi. Ipagtatanong n'yo muna. 'Yong mga magulang, kapag ang mga anak nila ay nililigawan, ang tanong, 'Taga saan ba 'yan? Sino'ng magulang niyan?' Hindi pwedeng ngayon lang tayo nagkita eh ok na agad tayo. Palagi ko pong sinasabi ito. Your grades or your Transcript of Records maybe can get you a job, but your character can keep you your job. Your good looks can find you a wife or a husband, but only your character can keep your marriage. Alam po ninyo 'yan. Hindi pwedeng puro daldal na lang. 'Yong iba, dinadaan ang tiwala sa salita, sa magandang mukha, magnanakaw pala. Di po ba? Maganda pong suriin 'yan.

There must be knowledge so that we can trust somebody. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hindi mo ibinibigay sa ibang tao, ang tiwalang meron ka sa iyong mga magulang. Trust is something that we have to earn; we cannot demand this from people.

It is good to ask, my dear brothers and sisters. Throwing the pendulum on the other side - what prevents you from trusting God? Magandang tanong 'yan. Ako ba ay talagang nagtitiwala sa Diyos? Kung hindi ako nagtitiwala, ano ang mga dahilan kung bakit hindi ako nagtitiwala sa Diyos? Sa mga pamilya, gaano ba kalaki ang tiwala mo sa iyong asawa, sa iyong anak? Sabi nila, napakadaling sirain ang pagtitiwala, pero napakahirap ibalik. Kung nawala na ang tiwala, paano mo ito ibabalik, hindi po ba?

Maganda pong pagtuunan ng pansin ang ating mga pagbasa, ano po? The Latin word 'audire' is the same word that says 'to hear' or 'to listen', and the same word that says 'to obey'. You cannot obey someone you would not want to listen to. You can only obey someone who you are willing to listen to, di po ba? Paano mo susundin ang isang taong ayaw mong pakinggan? Kahit kailan ay hindi ninyo susundin ang isang taong ayaw ninyong pakinggan. Hindi dahil sa ayaw mong marinig, kundi ayaw mo lang pakinggan, di po ba? Marahil ay pagtuunan din po natin ng pansin - ako po ba ay katiwa-tiwala?

Mga minamahal kong mga kapatid, minsan, parang 'lima singko' na lang ang tiwala ngayon, ano? Sa dinami-dami ng kalokohang nangyayari, naghihinala ka na. Ang nakakatakot ay napakadali nating maloko ng mga taong maayos ang damit, maganda ang mukha, mabango....Dahil hindi natin alam na magkaibang-magkaiba ang laman ng puso, sa hitsura ng mukha. Sabi nila, 'Ayusin mo ang mukha, hindi ibig sabihin na maayos ang puso. Pero ayusin mo ang puso, at ang mukha ay naaayos.'

Simon knew Jesus Christ and trusted Him. That is why Simon listened to Jesus, and followed Him. What Jesus was able to gain from the heart of Simon Peter is not simply the authority to say, "I am God", but He is a man worthy of trust.

As we continue with this celebration, let us ask the Lord's grace and to pray for our own family - that we may be able to live in love and in trust. Sana merong tunay na pagmamahal at pagtitiwala na nagsisimula sa sarili nating tahanan. Huwag ninyong aasahan na merong ibang taong magtitiwala sa inyo, kapag sa sarili ninyong pamilya ay hindi kayo mapagkakatiwalaan.

Gospel Reflection

September 04, 2013

Wednesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Benjamin “Benjo” Fajota - Vice Rector, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

12:15PM Mass at EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 Col 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,  to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. Of this you have already heard  through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you,  from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm PS 52:10, 11

R. (10) I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.

Gospel Lk 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

HOMILY

In our Gospel, we see an ordinary day in the life of Jesus Christ - preaching, teaching and healing. And it teaches us three important things.

First, when the mother-in-law of Simon was cured of her severe fever, she got up immediately and waited on them. Kapag tayo ay binigyan ng Diyos ng biyaya o pagpapala, ito ay dapat ginagamit sa paglilingkod para sa ating komunidad, para sa ating kapwa. The blessings we receive are not for us alone. Simon's mother-in-law was cured. She was healed and she used this strength, this new energy, this new life, in order to serve other people.

Second, Jesus was so busy, and we know that His energy must have been sapped from all the healings and preachings that He did. But He rested, and His rest came from His constant communication with His Heavenly Father. In order to rest, He goes to a certain place and prays. Tayo, sa maraming pagkakataon, lagi tayong may excuse. Pag pagod na pagod tayo, sobrang busy tayo, sasabihin natin, "Pasensiya na, Lord, pagod na pagod na ako, wala na akong time magdasal. But in the Gospel today, very clearly, Jesus Christ tells us that no matter how busy we are, no matter how tired we are, we must not forget to pray.

Third, Jesus became so popular because of His healings, because of His miracles, because of His teachings. He could have said, "I will just stay here, because I am already popular here." But what did He do? He went out to other towns, to other places, to neighboring countries, because He did not want to fall into the trap of popularity. Kung minsan, gano'n din tayo. Masyado na tayong kampante sa isang lugar, dahil tinanggap na tayo ng tao, dahil tayo ay nagbigay na ng ating paglilingkod doon, kaya ayaw na nating lumipat sa ibang lugar. Sometimes we fall into the trap of feeling so popular and too comfortable. God is telling us that we must use our energy and our talents in order to share and propagate God's Kingdom, no matter where we are assigned. The Word of God will free us from all the maladies and the evil spirits that come to us. We must proclaim the Kingdom of God with love and joy. Amen.