Monday, June 10, 2013

Gospel Reflection



June 10, 2013
Monday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time
by Rev. Fr. Prudencio 'Jun' T. Solomon, Jr., Parochial Vicar, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Sampaloc, Manila
12:15PM Mass, Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)


Reading 1 2 Cor1:1-7

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the Church of God that is at Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow. If we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; if we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel Mt 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

HOMILY

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, narinig natin ngayon sa ating Ebanghelyo ang sermon ni Hesus sa bundok, na mas kilala sa tawag na Beatitudes. Kung titingnan po nating mabuti, hindi po madaling gawin, hindi po madaling isabuhay ang mga ito. Minsan ay isang palaisipan ang mga pananalitang ito ni Hesus.

Papaanong tinawag na mapapalad ang mga aba? Paanong tinawag na mapapalad ang mga nagugutom, ang mga umiiyak, ang mga nanghihina, ang mga inuusig? Papaanong ang bansag sa kanila ay mapalad? Tunay nga ba silang mapalad, o baka naman ito'y isang uri lang ng panunuya sa kanilang abang kalagayan?

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kapatid, tignan natin ang sitwasyon ng mga taong ito. Sila, sa kabila ng kanilang mga tiisin, sa kabila ng mga pag-uusig sa kanila, sa kabila ng mga natatanggap nilang pasakit sa lipunan, nakikitaan sila ng pagkabig sa kung ano ang tama, totoo at matuwid, ayon sa kanilang Diyos. Kahit na ganoon ang kanilang nararanasan, patuloy pa rin silang nananatiling tapat sa pamamaraan ng Diyos. At yan ang kadahilanan kung bakit sila ay mapapalad. Sa kanilang pananatiling tapat, at pagkabig sa tama, totoo at matuwid, ang Diyos ang kanilang pabuya. Ang Diyos ang kanilang gantimpala. Sila'y mapapalad sapagkat sumasa-kanila ang Diyos.

Mga ginigilw kong mga kapatid, tayo rin ay inaanyayahan na maging bahagi ng kalipunan ng mga mapapalad. Kung tayo'y katulad ng mga binanggit sa ating Ebanghelyo, tayo ay mananatili na nakakapit sa kung ano ang tama, totoo at matuwid, sa mata ng Poong Maykapal. Tayo rin ay tinatawagan na makabilang sa mga mapapalad, kung tayo'y patuloy na kakapit sa pagmamahal ng Diyos.