Gospel Reflection

October 08, 2013

Tuesday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

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

5:30PM Mass at the EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 Jon 3:1-10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.  Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth  and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

Responsorial Psalm PS 130:1b-2, 3-4ab, 7-8

R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Let Israel wait for the LORD,
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

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

An American homily writer said that one of the best gifts that you can give to someone is open-minded, undistracted listening.

Last night, I received that gift. I met a priest friend of mine who was assigned at another ministry. We are very near each other by distance, but because of our schedule, it has been months since we last saw each other and talked to each other. A few months back, I received a call from him, and he wanted for us to meet, and so we met last night. He arrived after I exposed the Blessed Sacrament at 10 o'clock in the evening. We had coffee nearby. Then he got back here at 12:30am, because he parked his car at the EDSA Shrine, but still, we parted ways at 2:30 in the morning.

My friend just asked one question to me before we parted, and that was 'How are you? Kamusta ka na?' Doon sa tanong niyang iyon, nailabas kong lahat ng aking mga concerns, lahat ng aking mga struggles, lahat ng aking mga pinagdadaanang problema. And I was so relieved after that, unloading all the heaviness within me. True enough, if someone will listen to us, we will be so much relieved of our own problems. That friend of mine did not give any piece of advice. He did not argue with me. He just gave his undivided, undistracted listening.

And this is what we see here in the Gospel, with Martha and Mary. Martha wanted Jesus to listen to her. Mary wanted to listen to Jesus. And that made a big difference. That is why Jesus said that Mary has chosen the better part.

Every time we come here to mass, do we just have our problems presented to God, or are we ready to listen to Jesus Christ in His words? In the readings and in the Gospel, do we listen to the Word of God? If we do, we have chosen the better part. Amen.

Gospel Reflection

October 07, 2013

Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

by Rev. Fr. Leo Nilo C. Mangussad, - Rector, Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)
12:15PM Mass at the EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 Jon 1:1–2:1-2, 11

This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai:

“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish, away from the LORD.

The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea, and in the furious tempest that arose the ship was on the point of breaking up. Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god. To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship, and lay there fast asleep. The captain came to him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Rise up, call upon your God! Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish.”

Then they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune.” So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah. “Tell us,” they said, “what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country, and to what people do you belong?” Jonah answered them, “I am a Hebrew, I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him, “How could you do such a thing!–  They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD, because he had told them.– They asked, “What shall we do with you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea was growing more and more turbulent. Jonah said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea, that it may quiet down for you; since I know it is because of me that this violent storm has come upon you.”

Still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not, for the sea grew ever more turbulent. Then they cried to the LORD: “We beseech you, O LORD, let us not perish for taking this man’s life; do not charge us with shedding innocent blood, for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit.” Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea’s raging abated. Struck with great fear of the LORD, the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.

But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed  to the LORD, his God. Then the LORD commanded the fish to spew Jonah upon the shore.

Responsorial Psalm Jon 2:3, 4, 5, 8

R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Out of my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me;
From the midst of the nether world I cried for help,
and you heard my voice.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea,
and the flood enveloped me;
All your breakers and your billows
passed over me.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Then I said, “I am banished from your sight!
yet would I again look upon your holy temple.”
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD;
My prayer reached you
in your holy temple.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.

Gospel Lk 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

HOMILY

There is a saying that we choose our friends, and we also choose our enemies. But it is God who chooses our neighbor. And Jesus has defined who our neighbor is. Our neighbor is not just the one who stays or lives with us, but it is someone, anyone who needs our help. And that is who we should prioritize.

What is unfortunate is when we are beside somebody we do not like, we do not call him our neighbor. In fact, we move away from that person. Remember - we do not choose our neighbor; it is God who chooses our neighbor for us. And it is our chance to show how well we can do our calling...to be able to help even those who we do not want to. What we must ask ourselves is - when God gives me a chance to exercise my love for Him and my neighbor, am I capable of opening my heart to help those He sends to me, or up to now, do I choose only the one I want to help, because it is I, not God, who chooses the person I call 'neighbor'?

Gospel Reflection

October 06, 2013

Sunday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time

by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (Mission Society of St. Paul  – Quezon City)

MSSP House Chapel / Mass for the poor)

Reading 1 Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4

How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14

Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Gospel Lk 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."  The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?  Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'?  Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?  So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

HOMILY

When I was in Malta, I used to celebrate mass at an institution (shelter) for battered women. One woman came after mass telling me how she ended there because her son was beating her repeatedly and so harshly (I think he was on drugs and alcohol)... She was asking me, 'Why is this happening to me? I forgive my son, but next time that he beats me again ... I will be a fugitive from my house! Why is it that God does not do anything? I cannot believe anymore in Christ and His words.
 
The words of the First Reading from Habakkuk echo very well with this woman. "How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me”.
 
Sometimes, we say the same or similar words.
Why is this happening to me?
Why do I have such parents? Why I was born in a poor family?
Why these misfortunes? Why all these calamities / bagyo?
There is a whole list of whys!
 
To tell you the truth, I have no quick solutions. When the battered woman asked me why, I looked at the Crucifix and I felt the Lord telling me, “Why am I on the Cross?”
 
Believe... have faith!! The prophet Habakkuk continues: 'the righteous person will live by his faithfulness'.  To have faith does not only mean that you believe in the Trinity, that Jesus is God and our Savior, but to trust in a person. Trust in his presence with me. That even if I don’t understand everything, yet I trust in God.  
 
This relationship with God gives vision and hope in our life especially those who are passing in darkness. One day I was passing through a very difficult time. I felt lonely, useless, very sad inside... I was asking why? I was, at that time, in Pangasinan, in a remote village in the province. There was no electricity, it was very dark at night... I lied down on the ground outside on the grass and looked up... It was dark! But the view of the stars, because walang usok, was so clear, and I was looking at the most magnificent show of beauty in my life... that brought back the smile on my face. There is beauty in darkness... what is important is that we know where to look. If I am in darkness and look only at myself, I will remain in darkness and sadness. If I look at the stars... at God...I will be filled with consolation and hope.
 
Our founder De Piro used to say: “Look with the eyes of faith”.  Either I can see the darkness of my life and panic or I can see the same darkness and find the way out.
 
Faith gives you a new vision. There may be one and the same situation, but the way people look at it, makes the difference.
 
If I am sick, you may see it as a punishment – others see it as time to reflect. Have faith!
Someone dear dies. You may enter into depression or find in it the seed of new possibilities. Have faith!

Conflict in relationship or family – some sees it as a break in the relationship, others as a means to grow. Have faith!

Business fails

, or you lose your job, some see it as a total failure, others see it as an opportunity to try something else. Have faith!

This is what the readings today are inviting us to: to have faith.  When our faith weakens we lose this new perspective in life, and so everything becomes heavy, boring, dull. So let us continue to pray like the apostles “increase our faith”

Let us say together: “Lord increase our faith” AMEN