Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Gospel Reflection



March 06, 2012
Tuesday
Lenten Weekday
by V. Romeo A. Almeda
Sharing God’s Message to Me

First Reading:               Isaiah 1:10, 16-20    
Psalm:                         Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23    
Gospel:                        Matthew 23:1-12     

1 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; 12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

 
Be Servants of God

11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12


REFLECTION

I was recently aghast at the actuations of a senator of the Philippines. Well, many of them are of the same disposition. Outside the senate they call themselves public servants but inside senate investigations, impeachment courts, etc. they berate the public, the very public that they supposedly serve.

In community, the designation "servant" has evolved from what used to be "head," which is meaningful because service really comes from the heart. It is not because one is intellectually superior that he gets to lead a household prayer group, it is because he has a servant heart. The designation "elder" has also been taken for granted, not unlike Senior with a capital S. A Pharisaic nature slowly crept into our hearts with these designations, whether we admit it or not, and it is correct that these terms are now evolved into "missionary." It is a reminder of our task at hand, and a removal of any vain glory of being an elder or a Senior, similar to the vain glory of being called rabbi or master.

LORD, may your servants be good shepherds like you. May they have humble hearts to serve their flock, and become with the Church servus servorum Dei, servant of the servants of God. Amen.

LORD, let my two eyes see You, my two ears hear You, my two hands work with You and for You, my two feet go where I can proclaim You, but let my mind be only one, as You made it, and fixed on You. Amen.







Sunday, March 4, 2012

Gospel Reflection



March 03, 2012
Saturday
St. Katharine Drexel, Virgin (Commemoration)
Anticipated Sunday Mass (Second Sunday of Lent)
by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (MSSP – Quezon City)
Retreat Mass / Youth Reflection (Zambales)

First Reading:               Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18
Psalm:                         Psalm 116:10, 15-19
Second Reading:           Romans 8:31-34
Gospel:                        Mark 9:2-10

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, 3 and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Eli'jah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." 8 And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.


HOMILY

Intro: Last week our youths had a retreat on the mountains of Zambales with Bro. Mike.  In one of their meetings, they prayed with this passage of the Transfiguration.  All of them felt that God is speaking to them.  What I thought today is to let two of them to share something about their experience of how God spoke to their lives through his Word especially with this gospel.

...( youth shared their own experiences )


Concl: You see how wonderful it is when you are with Christ and be open to listen to Him!  May this Lent continue to help us to open our ears to Jesus, to listen to his voice especially with the word of God and let him transform our heart so that we will become more like Him.