Friday, September 13, 2013

Gospel Reflection



September 13, 2013
Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
by Rev. Fr. Leo Nilo C. Mangussad, - Rector, Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA Shrine)
6:30AM Mass at the EDSA Shrine

Reading 1 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm PS 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11

R. (see 5) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Gospel Lk 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

HOMILY

Elsa was trying to scold her child and was teaching him to be respectful and obedient. Then suddenly her Mom called her, 'Elsa, can you please get me a glass of water?' To which Elsa replied, 'Mom, be quiet! I am trying to teach my child the importance of patience and obedience.' 

My dear brothers and sisters, the blind cannot teach a blind. If you yourself cannot practice what you preach, how can you impart this to others? If you would like to teach somebody an important act, you must practice it yourself. One cannot teach something by theory alone. One should show what should be done. As a saying goes, 'Ang isang ginawa ng matanda, kahit mali, sa mata ng bata, ay nagiging tama.'

The Gospel is trying to remind us to do things, not through words, but through practice. The First Reading tells us to first acknowledge our faults or our wrongdoings, and then ask guidance from the Lord to practice what is right. 

Let us ask ourselves. Whenever I open my mouth to educate others, am I doing it first, or am I just saying it?