Monday, June 17, 2013

Gospel Reflection



June 17, 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 Cor 6:1-10

Brothers and sisters: As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2b, 3ab, 3cd-4

R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
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.

Gospel Mt 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

HOMILY

"An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Mata sa mata, ngipin sa ngipin.

Ito ay isa sa mga patakarang itinakda ng sinaunang sambayanang Hudyo upang maging gabay at maging batayan ng makakamit na hustisya sa kanilang lipunan. At ito ay itinakda sa pangunahing kadahilanan na dapat bantayan ang kilos o galaw o gawi ng mga tao. Na sa pagkamit ng hustisya, ang tao ay hindi lumalabis, hindi dapat sumosobra.

Pero sa kasamaang-palad, sa paglipas ng panahon, ito ay ginagamit bilang batayan ng paghihiganti. Mata sa mata, ngipin sa ngipin. At dito naging pangit ang tinatawag nating ebolusyon ng patakarang ito. Sapagkat ginagamit na siya bilang panukat ng paghihiganti.

Ito ang tinatanggal ni Hesus sa ating Ebanghelyo ngayon. Hindi na mata sa mata, hindi na ngipin sa ngipin. Ang ipinapalit ni Hesus ay ang ideya ng pagpaparaya. At ang pagpaparaya ay di nangangahulugan ng pagsuko, kundi ng pagpaparaya bunsod ng pagmamahal.

Kung sa kanilang unang patakaran, ang binibigyang-diin ay 'yong pagkakasala, ang binibigyang-diin ni Hesus sa Kanyang ipinalit na pagpaparaya bunsod ng pagmamahal, ay ang kahalagahan ng tao. Na sana, sa ginagawang kabutihan sa kanya, kahit na siya'y masama, ay matinag ang kanyang budhi at konsensiya. Na matinag ang kanyang kalooban, at makita niya ang kamalian na kanyang ginagawa.

Mga kapatid, ito ang ipinapalit ni Hesus - pagpaparaya bunsod ng pagmamahal. Binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga nagkamali na makita ang kanilang pagkukulang, na matinag ang kanilang konsensiya sa kanilang ginagawang masama.

Mga ginigiliw kong mga kaibigan, mahirap ang itinuturo ni Hesus, ngunit ito ay hindi imposible. Maaari natin itong gawin. Maaari nating antigin ang konsensiya ng iba, lalong lalo na 'yong mga nakasasakit sa atin, sa pamamagitan nang pagiging mabuti pa rin sa kanila. At ito ang panawagan ng Panginoon. Huwag na tayong maghiganti. Huwag na natin gawing sukatan ang sakit na ibibigay sa kanila, dahil sa ating tinamo sa kanila. Mga kapatid, bakit hindi natin pigilin ang kasamaan sa pamamagitan nang pagiging mabuti? Nang sa gayon, sa awa ng Diyos, ay makita nila at maramdaman 'yong kanilang dakilang pagkakamali, at sila ay magbago at magbalik-loob.

Sabi nga ng isa sa mga nakausap ko, kapag may mga taong sobrang suwail, kill them with your kindness. Ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon - pagpaparaya, bunsod ng pagmamahal.