Saturday, June 1, 2013

Gospel Reflection



June 01, 2013
Saturday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
by Rev. Fr. Carmelo P. Arada (Minister)
(Ministry on Lectors and Commentators, Commission on Liturgy, Archdiocese of Manila)
8:00AM Mass at the Layforce Chapel, San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, Makati

 

Reading 1 Sir 51:12 cd-20

I thank the LORD and I praise him; I bless the name of the LORD. When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer I prayed for her before the temple, and I will seek her until the end, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe. My heart delighted in her, My feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was familiar with her. In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction. Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise. I became resolutely devoted to her— the good I persistently strove for. My soul was tormented in seeking her,  My hand opened her gate and I came to know her secrets. I directed my soul to her, and in cleanness I attained to her.

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Gospel Mk 11:27-33

Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Sunday Gospel Lk 9:11b-17

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, "Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here." He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people." Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.


HOMILY

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Pakibati naman po ng good morning ang inyong mga katabi. (people greet each other) Ang ingay talaga ninyo. (laughs)

Naniniwala ba kayo sa himala? (people say 'yes') Tignan n'yo nga po 'yong katabi ninyo, kung siya ay isang himala o isang sumpa. (loud laughs)

Sa Ebanghelyo po natin, meron pong nais ipaalala sa atin ang Diyos sa kwento. If we want miracles to happen in our day, let us remember these three secrets.

Ang unang sikreto ng himala para kay Hesus para makita nating kumikilos ang Diyos sa buhay natin, ay huwag tayong magsimula sa wala. Magsimula tayo sa meron. Maraming pagkakataon na kaya hindi natin nakikitang may biyaya ang Diyos ay dahil ang hinahanap natin ay 'yong wala. Sabi ng mga alagad sa Ebanghelyo, 'wala po tayong maipapakain sa kanila'. Sa totoo, tamad at madamot lang 'yong mga alagad. Meron naman palang limang tinapay at dalawang isda. Sabi nila wala, pero meron naman pala. Hindi nila makita 'yong biyaya sapagkat 'yong maliit, 'yong kakaunti ay tinuring nilang wala.

Alam n'yo mga kapatid, maraming pagkakataon na katulad din tayo ng mga alagad. Itinuturing nating wala ang meron naman pala. Sa dalawang pagkakataon. Una - kapag ayaw nating magbigay. Kapag ayaw nating magbahagi, kapag nagdadamot tayo, sasabihin nating wala, pero meron naman pala. At ikalawa, kapag hindi tayo nakukuntento sa biyaya ng Diyos sa atin, dahil laging mas maganda, mas ok, mas bongga 'yong sa kapitbahay, 'yong sa kumare mo. Mga kapatid, tuwing ituturing nating wala ang meron naman pala, minamaliit natin ang biyaya ng Diyos. Iniinsulto natin ang kabutihan ng Diyos. Para po mamulat tayo na may himala sa buhay natin, huwag tayong magsimula sa wala. Kilalanin natin kung ano ang mayroon.

Ikalawa po, hindi dahilan ang kakaunti para hindi makapagbigay. Hindi dahilan ang kahirapan para hindi makapagbahagi. 'Yon pong maliit na bata - hindi po binanggit dito kung sino 'yong nagbigay - pero sa ibang bersiyon ng Ebanghelyong ito, isang maliit na bata ang nagbigay ng limang tinapay at dalawang isda. Ito pong batang ito, marahil pinagbilinan ng Nanay at Tatay niya, "Huwag mong bibitawan 'yan. Kapag binitawan mo 'yan, kapag nawala 'yan, wala tayong kakainin. Magugutom tayo." Pero dahil sa kagandahang-loob ng batang ito, 'yong limang tinapay at dalawang isda na ipinagpasalamat sa Diyos, ibinahagi sa kapwa, hindi lang po sumapat. Lumabis pa. Labindalawang basket ng tinapay ang nakolekta pagkatapos makakain ang lahat.

Mga kapatid, hindi po dahilan ang kakaunti, hindi po dahilan ang kahirapan para hindi po tayo magbahagi o magbigay. Minsan po, sinasabi natin, "Mahirap din kami. 'Yon bang kaunting kakainin namin, 'yong kakaunting kita sa araw-araw, ibibigay pa ba namin sa mahihirap?" Tatanungin ko po kayo. Meron na po ba kayong nabalitaang mahirap na Kristiyano na nagbahagi at namatay sa gutom? Pero mayroong mga Kristiyano na naglalakad pa, humihinga pa, nakakapagsalita pa, pero dahil sa karamutan, patay na. Sapagkat pinatay niya si Hesus sa kanyang puso na nagtuturo sa kanyang magbigay. Hindi po natin ikayayaman ang pagdadamot. Hindi natin ikayayaman na sarilinin ang mga biyaya ng Diyos sa atin. Ikamamatay natin ito. Hindi dahilan ang kakaunti, hindi dahilan ang kahirapan para hindi makapagbigay.

Minsan daw po ay nagpunta si Cardinal Tagle sa isang soup kitchen, sa isang feeding program sa Imus. At ang sistema po doon, 'yong mga batang pinakakain ay may kasamang Nanay. Sa di kalayuan daw napansin ni Cardinal na mukhang batang bata pa 'yong 'nanay'. Mukhang grade school pa lang daw. 'Yon pala siya 'yong Ate no'ng bata. 'Yong Nanay kasi 'yong magsusubo at magpapakain do'n sa bata. Nilapitan niya 'yong magkapatid, at nakita niya 'yong Ate na namumutla na. Halatang-halatang gutom na. Sabi niya, "O bakit hindi ka rin sumubo? Bakit hindi ka rin kumain? Sasabihan ko 'yong mga organizer na bigyan ka rin ng pagkain." Sabi daw po no'ng bata, "Hindi na po ako pwede dito. Hanggang pang-pitong taon lang po ang pinakakain dito. Kapag kumain po ako at nandaya, may magugutom po. Meron pong di makakakain."

Sa lugar na pwede naman sanang magsinungaling...sa lugar na pwede naman sanang mandaya, may pagbabahagi at pagmamahal. Dahil hindi dahilan ang kakaunti at kahirapan, para takasan natin ang pananagutan nating magbahagi at magbigay. Sabi po ng second Plenary Council of the Philippines, no one is so rich that he has nothing to receive, and no one is so poor that he has nothing to give.

Ang ikatlong sikreto ng himala. Kung tatanungin ko po kayo - ano ba ang himala para sa inyo? Alam ko ang magiging tugon ninyo ay biyaya ng Diyos. Ang lahat ng himala ay galing sa Diyos, sa kabutihan ng Diyos. Totoo po 'yan. Pero mayroon po itong katapat. Ang bawat himala ay pagkilala din sa kabutihan ng kapwa. Sabi po ni Cardinal Rosales, if we want miracles to happen in our day, we must be willing to invest goodness. Kailangan nating mamuhunan ng kabutihan. Totoo naman po.

Sa kwento natin ngayon, kung walang bata na nagbigay ng limang tinapay at dalawang isda, walang himala. Sa kwento ng kasalan sa Cana, kung walang mga mama na nagpuno ng mga tapayan, nagtiyagang magbuhat nito at dalhin kay Hesus, walang tubig na magiging alak, walang himala. Doon po sa kwento ng mamang paralitiko, hindi niya talaga kayang pumunta kay Hesus dahil hindi siya nakakagalaw at nakakakilos. At kung walang apat na kaibigan na nagtiyagang buhatin siya, at noong masikip yo'ng lugar ay binutas pa 'yong bubong at kisame at dahan-dahan siyang dinala kay Hesus....kung walang apat na kaibigang nagmalasakit, walang himala.

Kaya po totoo 'yong sinabi ni Ate Guy sa himala. (laughs) Walang himala. Sapagkat nasa puso ng bawat tao ang himala.

Nakakapagtaka po, sinabi ni Hesus, ipunin daw 'yong mga tira-tira. Inisip ko, nagtitipid ba o nagsisinop lang si Hesus? Mukhang hindi. 'Yon daw pong labindalawa ay simbulo ng simbahan. Kaya nga po ang simbahan ay tinatawag na maging tira-tira. We are called to be leftovers. Tinatawag tayong maging tira-tira. Ang tanong ko po sa inyo - naranasan n'yo na po bang maging tira-tira? 'Yon bang ibinigay n'yo na ang lahat, parang nasaid na kayo, parang walang bumabalik, parang napagod na kayong magmahal? Kapag meron pong tira-tira, if there are leftovers, it only means meron pong nagbigay. Merong hindi nagdamot. Merong hinayaan ang sarili na maubos at masaid, para meron naman mabusog.
Ito po 'yong panawagan sa atin bilang mga lingkod ng simbahan. Para tayong mga kandila at tinapay. Ang tinapay para makabusog, kailangang pira-pirasuhin at maubos. Ang kandila, para makapagbigay liwanag, kailangang matunaw at mawala. Huwag po tayong magsasawang magbigay. Sapagkat ang mga tunay na himala ay nangyayari, hindi sa pagkabig, kundi sa pagbabahagi ng pag-ibig. When God created each one of us, we were created to be miracles. We were created to be blessings for each other. That is why there is no need to look for miracles in places around us. Because the miracle is inside our hearts. Do not look for blessings and miracles around you. Be the answer to someone else's pain. Be the miracle. Be the blessing. Amen.



Gospel Reflection



June 01, 2013
Saturday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
First Saturday of the Month
by Rev.  Fr. Matthieu Dauchez
6:30AM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)

 

Reading 1 Sir 51:12 cd-20

I thank the LORD and I praise him; I bless the name of the LORD. When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer I prayed for her before the temple, and I will seek her until the end, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe. My heart delighted in her, My feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was familiar with her. In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction. Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise. I became resolutely devoted to her— the good I persistently strove for. My soul was tormented in seeking her,  My hand opened her gate and I came to know her secrets. I directed my soul to her, and in cleanness I attained to her.

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Gospel Mk 11:27-33

Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

HOMILY

My dear brothers and sisters, the way that Jesus answered the teachers seems to avoid their question. But Jesus, in fact, was fighting their hypocrisy. Jesus knew that they were not seeking the truth, but were only seeking a trap for Jesus. They did not deserve the truth from Jesus, because they did not see the truth. They were just seeking their own interests. They were not interested with what is really true.

The truth will lead us to Jesus. Let us get rid of our plan of hypocrisy and let us set in our lives means to seek, with sincerity, the truth. Let us not be afraid of the truth. If their answer to Jesus was "we don't know", ours should be, 'I'll do my best, Jesus, to seek and find the truth." Amen.